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53
General
Contrary to the national trend, which registered a fall of 0.8%
in total deaths during 1970, Greenwich recorded an increase of
2.2%. A decrease in deaths from heart disease in the Borough
was more than offset by advances in cancer, cerebrovascular and
respiratory mortality.
Many respiratory deaths were undoubtedly associated with the
1969 outbreak of Hong Kong A2 type influenza which persisted
into the early months of the current year and an increase in rainfall
of almost 20% to a total of 24.49 ins. could also, conceivably,
have been a contributory factor.
Although, statistically, variations in rates may sometimes seem
substantial, in many instances actual numbers are small and lead to
wide and often only temporary fluctuations.
Heart Disease
Recognised as the principal "killer" compaint of modern times
this classification, covering as it does (a) chronic rheumatic, (b)
hypersensitive, (c) ischaemic and (d) other forms of heart disease,
it was responsible for 780 deaths (440 males and 340 females)
during the current year. This total, which was a decrease of 69
from that of the previous year, formed 29.9% of the total deaths
from all causes and gives a rate of 3.46 per 1,000 of the population.
The rate for 1969 was 3.73.
Deaths in the Borough from ischaemic heart disease alone
accounted for 621 (375 males and 246 females), some 45 less than
the 666 who died from this disease in 1969. Of the 375 males
who succumbed from this cause, 38.6% were between the ages of
45 and 65 years compared with slightly less than 11 % of similarly
grouped females.
Compared with figures for England and Wales and Greater
London of 2.84 and 2.58 respectively, the Borough rate was 2.75.
Cerebrovascular Disease
Of the total of 295 deaths arising from cerebrovascular disease
during the year, 182 were females. Apart from ischaemic heart
disease, this constituted the main cause of death in females, being
responsible for almost 15% of all female deaths during the year.
As expected, the greater proportion of these deaths, viz. 162 (89%)
occurred in women over the age of 65 years and only 7 (3.8%) in
those under 55 years.
The present rate of 1.31 shows a slight increase of 0.18 over that
for 1969 but still compares favourably with that of 1.61 for England
and Wales.