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(A full list of the causes of the deaths and the ages at which they
occurred is given in Table IV in the Appendix.)
On analysis it is found that the chief causes of the increased number
of deaths in 1947 compared with 1946 were heart disease, etc. (43),
bronchitis and pneumonia (30) and violence (22).
HEART DISEASE, ETC.
The death rate from heart and other circulatory diseases showed a
slight increase on last year's figure, but as this group is largely composed
of deaths occurring in elderly people from what is really old age, it is
hoped that the proportion coming under this heading will remain relatively
high. The slight increase in 1947 is probably associated with a corresponding
increase in the average age of the population at risk in that
year, compared with recent years, and this factor has also doubtless
influenced the deaths from other causes.
In 1947, 81 per cent, of deaths from heart disease, etc., were over
65 years of age at the time of death (an increase of 4 per cent, on 1946),
while 51 per cent, were over 75 years of age. Similarly, of deaths from
all causes, 64 per cent, were over 65 years of age, compared with 59 per
cent, in 1946.
CANCER.
The cancer death rate for the year 1947 was 1.89, which is slightly
less than the rate for 1946.
This rate has tended to increase more or less steadily since 1920,
partly owing to better notification, but in part due to a true increase in
some forms of the disease.
The following table gives the age, sex and distribution of the disease
in the 118 deaths which occurred during 1947. Only a slight difference
is noticeable in the distribution of the disease when comparing the fatal
cases in the last two years.
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