Cardiovascular Statistics

In New Zealand

Cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke and blood vessel disease) is the leading cause of death, accounting for 40% of all deaths in 2000 ¹
22% of those deaths were from coronary heart disease (CHD), 8% from diseases of the heart and circulation, and 10% from cerebrovascular disease (stroke) ¹
Admissions to public hospitals for coronary heart disease totalled 29,456 in 2000-2001, 59% men and 41% women ¹
The death rate from CHD is more than twice as high for men than women ¹

Ethnicity

In all age groups, deaths are highest for Māori, followed by Pacific people and lowest for those of neither Māori, nor Pacific origin 1
56% Māori males and 55% Pacific males, who died from CHD were under the age of 65 years 1
34% Māori females and 33% Pacific females, who died from CHD, were under the age of 65 years 1
For those of neither Māori nor Pacific origin, 16% of males and 5% of females, who died from CHD were under the age of 65 years ¹

Sixteen New Zealanders die each day, or one person every 90 minutes, as a result of CHD. 1