Covid deaths fall in England, but dementia and heart disease remain a concern

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New government figures show an above-average number of deaths last month. Dementia was the biggest cause of death in England and heart disease in Wales. Covid deaths have plummeted, however, prompting a testing expert to call for routine dementia and heart screening to match the success of the UK’s Covid testing campaign.

It’s official: Covid’s disappearance from Britain’s top ten killers list is ‘statistically significant’, scientists say. New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that Covid was responsible for just 1.5% of all deaths in England and Wales in the week ending June 16. He also rose from England’s eighth biggest killer in April to 13th in May. Last month, Covid killed 785 people in England, rising from 1,260 deaths in April.

However, a leading testing expert says that success should not hide the fact that deaths for the year to date are 7.6% above average in England and 6.5% in Wales. The main killers are dementia/Alzheimer’s in England and heart disease in Wales.

Leading testing expert Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), clinical lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: ‘We may have won the Covid battle at the moment, but the UK is far from winning the war of health. In England, dementia/Alzheimer’s was the leading cause of death for the 23rd consecutive month in May. It claimed 4,872 lives last month, or 97.9 lives per 100,000 people. In Wales, ischemic heart disease (better known as coronary heart disease) was the leading cause of death for the second month. 319 people died from the usually treatable disease in Wales in May, or 106.8 deaths per 100,000 people.

“There is no doubt that the Covid testing program during the pandemic has helped reduce the spread of the virus during vaccine development. Why hasn’t there been a similar effort in the face of dementia and heart disease? Dementia has been the top killer in England for two years now, but there has been no increase in testing. Likewise, there has been no move similar to the UK’s Covid response to take on the potentially devastating impact of heart disease. This is despite the fact that it is a treatable condition if detected early.

“Although coronary artery disease is not reversible, it is certainly manageable. If detected in time, lifestyle changes, medications and, if necessary, surgery greatly reduce the risk of problems such as heart attacks.

“Similarly, the Alzheimer’s Society says early diagnosis helps people make important decisions about treatment, support and care. Early diagnosis helps people with this condition live as well as possible and manage symptoms. It’s no wonder that in a recent Alzheimer Society poll, three out of five people with dementia wish they had been diagnosed earlier.

“This is why the UK needs universal screening for heart disease, ideally from the age of 50, and dementia/Alzheimer’s disease from the age of 65.

“Screening tests for ischemic/coronary heart disease must be systematic. A simple blood test for blood pressure and cholesterol levels can detect if heart disease is a possibility. This will lead to further tests and, if necessary, treatments.

“Screening for dementia/Alzheimer’s is also relatively simple. A GP or other healthcare surgical professional will take personal and medical histories and speak to someone who knows the patient well, if they have symptoms. They are also likely to perform a physical examination and undertake a cognitive assessment. Again, blood tests are essential. This is to check for other conditions that could be causing similar symptoms, such as thyroid problems or vitamin deficiencies.

“For dementia and heart disease, blood tests are essential, either to detect high levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol or to rule out other conditions that could be mistaken for dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. Blood tests can help identify many conditions early, which is particularly useful for diseases that are not yet routinely screened for in the UK.

“Of course, people don’t have to wait for a doctor’s appointment to get a blood test. London Medical Laboratory’s General Health Profile blood test provides a comprehensive general health profile, including diabetes (HbA1c), gout, liver and kidney function, bone health, iron levels and a complete cholesterol profile . It can be carried out at home by post or at one of the many walk-in clinics that offer these tests in London and across the country at over 95 selected pharmacies and health shops.

Source:

London Medical Laboratory

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