HEAltH MAttErS 07
natIonal health
Priority Risk Factors for Major Causes of Death, in Ireland, 2007
decreases in smoking rates contributed to
over 60 per cent. Unfortunately, epidemic
rates of diabetes and obesity prevented us
from saving more lives over this period. A
huge 80 per cent of mature onset diabetes
is related to obesity and the twin epidemics
continue to pose a major threat to the
health of our population.
CaNCer
Cancer is the second most common cause
of death in Ireland, with one in three Irish
people developing cancer during their
lifetime. the most common causes of
cancer death in Ireland are lung cancer (20
per cent), followed by colorectal cancer
(12.3 per cent), and breast cancer (8.6 per
cent). Cancer death rates have decreased
in Ireland, but not as sharply as rates of factors; health services and wider social death rates from heart disease, stroke,
coronary heart disease deaths. Some 40 determinants of health such as social and cancers and other illness have fallen, more
per cent of cancers are preventable and community networks, and living and people are now living with these illnesses.
one third are due to smoking. tackling working conditions. Our population is one of the youngest in
smoking and other risk factors, screening Europe, and we therefore have a great
to detect early cancers of the cervix, breast, HealTH INeqUalITIeS opportunity and a challenge to improve
and bowel and achieving better outcomes Socio-economic factors are a very powerful the health of our young and middle-aged
from treatment through cancer centres determinant of health. there is evidence populations so that they will reach old age
of excellence are the principal ways of from many countries that there is a social in a healthier state than the current older
decreasing cancer death rates. class gradient in virtually all health indicators European populations. We can achieve this
Priority risk factors for the major causes such as life expectancy, death rates from firstly by preventing these illnesses as far as
of death are as follows: Untreated high cancer, heart disease, rates of disability and possible and secondly by preventing
blood pressures; smoking; alcohol use; rates of self-perceived health. this means complications among those who have
high cholesterol; overweight and obesity; that those who are in the highest socio- already developed them.
nutrition/low fruit and vegetable intake; economic groups enjoy the best health as We have seen what could be the
physical inactivity (see chart above). measured on these indicators, those at beginning of a transformation in health in
these risks factors account for two thirds the bottom have the worst health, and the this country over the past ten years or so.
of the disability burden of all illness. status of those in between is intermediate. In order to achieve our full health potential,
The National Health and lifestyle study as a nation, we need a combination of
(Slán 2007) found evidence of differences THreaTS To fUTUre HealTH strong public health policies, including
between the social classes in some of these While we are healthier than ever, there fiscal policy on tobacco and alcohol, and
critical risk factors, for example smoking, are some significant threats to our future a more integrated and evidence based
high blood pressure and obesity – a health. these arise from the twin epidemics approach to managing those who have
gradient was found right across the social of diabetes and obesity which have the long term illnesses.
classes. potential to halt or even reverse the current The Health Status of the Population of
In general those in the higher socio- favourable trends in heart disease death Ireland report is available to download from
economic groups have healthier lifestyles rates. Other significant problems include the HSE website www.hse.ie. the team
than those in the lower groups. smoking prevalence, which remains that oversaw the publication of the report
Determinants of health include the stubbornly high at around 29 per cent, and was led by Dr Declan Bedford, Director
following: our consumption of alcohol which is one of of Public Health, Dublin North East; Dr
Individual factors such as age, gender the highest in Europe. Bernadette O’keeffe, Specialist in Public
and genetic factors over which the Health Medicine, Dublin North East;
individual has no control; lifestyle factors CHalleNgeS Ita Hegarty, Senior Research Officer, Dept
such as smoking, diet, physical activity Chronic illnesses such as coronary heart of Public Health, Dublin North East and
over which individuals have a significant disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the Aishling Sheridan, Research Officer, Dept of
amount of control; socio-economic main causes of death and disability. While Public Health, Dublin North East.
health matters is 4.indd 7 27/11/2009 20:34:41
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