Circulatory Diseases

Circulatory diseases cause more deaths in Somerset than any other condition type. In the five-year period of 2008-12, there were 8,542 deaths caused by circulatory diseases (31% of all deaths in Somerset).

These are broken down as follows:-

• Coronary Heart Disease 3,565 (42% of circulatory disease mortality)
• Stroke 2,557 (30%)
• Hypertension 227 (3%)
• Other  circulatory disease 2,193 (25%)

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease increases significantly after the age of 40 years. The NHS Health Checks programme in Somerset is a key priority as it focuses on raising awareness of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and offering individuals support to reduce their future risk. In 2012, 61% of the annual target population were invited to a check and 27% received a check.

In the latest Cardiovascular Disease Health Profiles , Somerset performs better or is broadly in line with the national average in respect of most indicators.

• In 2016/17 there were 13,045 people in Somerset diagnosed as having had a stroke but the actual figure may be higher.
• Early mortality rates for strokes in Somerset in 2014-16 were 11.1 per 100,000 people, well below the national rate of 13.4 per 100,000.
• In 2016/17, there were 21,554 people in Somerset diagnosed with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), but based on national data modelled from the Health Survey for England, the true figure could be close to 30,000.
• Early mortality rates for CHD in Somerset in 2014-16 at 30.5/100,000 are significantly lower than the national average of 39.4/100,000 and have fallen by 40% since 2004.
• Hospital admission rates in 2016/17 for coronary heart disease (408.5/100,000) were significantly lower than the national rate (515.8/100,000).

Hypertension Profiles

In January 2016, the National Cardiovascular intellligence network (NCVIN), in partnership with the Public Health England (PHE) blood pressure team, launched a series of Hypertension Profiles for each Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and lower tier local authority.  

The Hypertension Profiles show each local authority how well it is doing in detecting and treating high blood pressure by comparing its performance with that of similar authorities and with the rest of England.   For Somerset, this showed that the number of people estimated to have hypertension to be 155,800.  The proportion diagnosed with hypertension was 57.6%, compared to an England figure of 55.8%.