Top Causes of Mortality in Over 65 Year Olds
Theme: Health and Wellbeing Status
Background Information
The leading causes of death in the 65 and over population are similar to those in the population
as a whole. This information is therefore important in the planning and delivering of health
services. Furthermore, many of these conditions are preventable with lifestyle changes and thus
by improving knowledge and service provision, health can be improved and life prolonged.
Data
Mortality data in the 65 and over population was taken from Cumbria PCT’s mortality files for
2008.
Cumbria
In 2008, there were 2,024 deaths from all causes in the Cumbrian male population aged 65 and
over. The greatest number of deaths were due to diseases of the circulatory system (ICD 10
I00X to I99X) accounting for 38.9% of all deaths in this age group. Within this, Ischaemic heart
disease (I20-I25) and Cerebrovascular diseases (stroke) (I60-I69) were the biggest killers
accounting for 19.0% and 8.7% of all deaths respectively.
Circulatory diseases were also the top cause of death in the female population accounting for
40.5% of all deaths (1,033 out of 2,552). Ischaemic heart disease and Cerebrovascular disease
(stroke) were also the top circulatory diseases accounting for 14.6% and 13.6% respectively.
Districts within Cumbria
The same pattern was repeated at district council level with a high level of agreement in the
causes of mortality in the over 65 population for 2008 for both males and females. For the male
population (Figure 1), over 30% of all deaths in 2008 (in all district councils) were the result of
cardiovascular diseases. This varied between districts from 31% in Copeland to 42% in Eden.
Copeland is the only district where cardiovascular diseases are not the leading cause of death;
neoplasms accounted for 40% of deaths here compared to only 31% for cardiovascular diseases.
Circulatory diseases have a higher proportion of all deaths in females than males. They are the
leading cause of death in over 65 year olds in all districts, accounting for over 35% of deaths
(ranging from 37% in Allerdale to 44% in Eden). Neoplasms account for a smaller proportion of
deaths in over 65 year old females (22% Cumbria average) than males (33% Cumbria average).
18 February 2010
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Figure 1: 2008 Top Group Causes of Mortality in the 65 and Over Male Population
2008 Top Five Group Causes of Mortaliity in the 65 and over Male Population: Percentage of All
Causes (Source: Cumbria PCT Deaths Database)
100
90
1.26
5.54
1.93
5.41
4.06
3.82
80
10.83
14.67
32.75
34.36
33.65
35.14
34.37
11.93
2.42
3.63
5.04
3.78
3.02
3.46
2.92
4.25
12.10
11.34
13.17
12.30
30.25
28.73
Percent of all deaths
70
60
50
32.76
39.52
40
30
20
37.28
41.60
41.25
Eden
South Lakeland
37.01
30.65
10
0
Allerdale
Barrow-in-Furness
Diseases of Circulatory System
Carlisle
Neoplasms
Copeland
Diseases of Respiratory System
Diseases of Digestive System
Cumbria
Diseases of Nervous System
Figure 2: 2008 Top Group Causes of Mortality in the 65 and Over Female Population
2008 Top Five Group Causes of Mortaliity in the 65 and over Female Population: Percentage of All
Causes (Source: Cumbria PCT Deaths Database)
100
90
80
4.78
4.60
2.22
5.83
6.37
Percent of all deaths
70
2.86
4.00
5.75
5.96
7.23
11.06
14.56
20.00
21.46
40.28
40.23
42.00
Barrow-in-Furness
Carlisle
Copeland
5.41
4.12
12.86
16.39
4.39
5.49
10.46
12.66
22.13
22.10
43.83
41.68
40.48
Eden
South Lakeland
Cumbria
11.16
60
25.14
50
22.51
21.28
40
30
20
36.85
10
0
Allerdale
Diseases of Circulatory System
18 February 2010
Neoplasms
Diseases of Respiratory System
Diseases of Digestive System
Diseases of Nervous System
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