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statistical data compiled locally relating to cause of death may not
entirely agree with the figures furnished to Local Authorities by the
Registrar-General. Classification of the cause of death is taken
from one or more causes as stated on the medical certificate in
accordance with the rules generally adopted throughout England
and Wales.
The Registrar-General is able, in cases where it is deemed desirable,
to obtain fuller information from the certifying practitioner.
This enables his department to modify the original classification—
hence the possibilities of discrepancies in some cases between the
figures prepared locally and those referred by the RegistrarGeneral
General
While, nationally, total deaths fell by 1.4%, those in respect of
Greenwich residents declined by 2.3%. Heart disease registered
a decrease of 53 (6.8%), mainly of the ischaemic type, and, as
expected, following the abatement of the Hong Kong A2 influenza
outbreak of 1969 which had persisted into 1970, there was a
reduction of almost 10% in respiratory mortality. Although there
was a slight decrease in deaths from "all forms" of cancer and
those from carcinoma of the lung fell by 7% to 160, those of the
breast and uterus showed advances of 10% and 50% respectively.
Increases in deaths from cerebrovascular disease, motor-car accidents,
suicide and congenital anomalies were marginal.
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
Current local mortality from heart disease is at a level almost
10% below the average for the previous 6 years.
Recognised as the principal "killer" complaint of modern times
this classification, covering as it does (a) chronic rheumatic, (b)
hypertensive, (c) ischaemic and (d) other forms of heart disease,
it was responsible for 727 deaths (386 males and 341 females)
during the current year. This total, which was a decrease of 53
from that of the previous year, formed 28.5% of the total deaths
from all causes and gives a rate of 3.35 per 1,000 of the population.
The rate for 1970 was 3.46.
Deaths in the Borough from ischaemic heart disease alone