Half of German deaths linked to cardiovascular disease

Executive Summary

Almost one in two of all German deaths recorded in 2003 (854,000) were linked to circulatory system diseases, according to ICD 10-based federal statistics office (Statistische Bundesamt) data released on February 14 2005. The total (396,000 men and 458,000 women) was 1.5% higher than in 2002, the increase being put down to the ageing population. (Measured like-for-like, the increase was only 0.3%.) Heart attacks accounted for 69,000 deaths (55% of which were men).