London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Coulsdon and Purley 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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The principal causes of death locally during 1954 together with the rates per cent of total deaths, are shown in the following table, the deaths and comparable death rates among ordinary residents being shown in brackets:—
| Cause. | Number of Deaths. | Rate per cent. of Total Deaths. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart and circulatory diseases | 492 (299) | 53.8 (53.4) |
| Cancer, malignant disease | 142 (117) | 15.5 (20.9) |
| Pneumonia | 58 (24) | 6.3 (4.3) |
| Bronchitis | 25 (11) | 2.7 (1.9) |
| Accidents | 32 (19) | 3.5 (3.4) |
| Tuberculosis (all forms) | 10 (3) | 1.1 (0.5) |
(A full list of the causes of deaths and the ages at which
they occurred is given in Table IV. in the Appendix.)
HEART AND CIRCULATORY DISEASE.
Among the ordinary residents the death rate from heart and
other circulatory disease was 4.62 compared with an average of
5.17 in the preceding four years. As however, this group includes
a high proportion of elderly people dying virtually of old age,
it is not regrettable if this particular rate remains high.
Ignoring the mental hospital group, this year 73 per cent of
residents dying from heart and circulatory disease were over 65
years of age at the time of death, compared with an average of
81 per cent in the previous five years, while 41 per cent were over
75 years of age. (Incidentally, 68 per cent of deaths from all
causes were over 65 years, compared with an average of 67 in
the five preceding years).
CANCER.
The cancer death rate in respect of normal residents was 1.81
in 1954 compared with an average of 1.85 in the last five years
and 1.82 since the war. The tendency to stabilisation noted in
recent years has, therefore, continued.
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