Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology Resources
Activity 1.3.2 Student Sheet
ANALYSIS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE DATA
Purpose


To analyse quantitative data on cardiovascular disease (CVD).
To consider the effect of age and gender on the risk of CVD.
Analysis of risk: haemorrhagic stroke
Mark had his haemorrhagic stroke in 1995 at the age of 15. In this type of stroke a blood vessel in the
brain bursts. With the correct data it is possible to calculate his risk of having a fatal stroke, and to see
how this risk is affected by age and gender. Tables 1 and 2 present data for the year that Mark had his
stroke.
Age
Male
Female
0–4
6
7
5–9
6
–
10–14
7
5
15–19
8
6
20–24
19
10
Table 1 Number of UK deaths from haemorrhagic stroke in 1995.
Gender
Age group
15–19
Females
Males
1 682 000
1 780 000
Table 2 Population of the UK in 1995 separated by gender for the 15–19 age group.
Q1
Estimate the probability of a 15-year-old male in the UK dying from a haemorrhagic stroke
during 1995 and explain how you determined your answer.
Q2
Estimate the probability of a 15-year-old female in the UK dying from a haemorrhagic stroke
during 1995 and explain how you determined your answer.
Analysis of coronary heart disease data
Use the data on age-specific death rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) over a number of years in
Table 3 to answer the questions that follow.
Age/years
35–44
45–54
55–64
65–74
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
1980
56
9
270
50
733
215
1621
688
1985
43
7
221
43
687
213
1601
702
1990
37
6
159
33
536
179
1352
594
1995
26
5
117
24
408
124
1133
498
2000
19
5
92
20
291
84
823
347
2005
19
4
73
16
204
54
558
225
2010
15
4
62
14
165
40
396
148
Table 3 Death rates per 100 000 of population of the United Kingdom due to CHD.
All users will need to review the risk assessment information and may need to adapt it to local circumstances.
© 2015 University of York, developed by University of York Science Education Group.
This sheet may have been altered from the original.
Page 1 of 2
Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology Resources
Activity 1.3.2 Student Sheet
Q3
Comment on what happens to the average risk of death due to CHD as you get older. Give a
reason for any changes in risk.
Q4
Use the data to produce an appropriate graph to show clearly the gender differences for a
particular year. For guidance on drawing graphs see Maths and Stats Support Sheet 2 –
Presenting data – graphs.
Q5
a
Describe the trend in the number of deaths per 100 000 from CHD between 1980 and
2010. Use examples from the data to quantify your answer. Estimate the percentage
decrease in each case.
b
Suggest reasons for this trend.
a
Compare the incidence of CHD deaths in men and women. Remember to quantify your
answers.
b
Suggest reasons for any differences described.
a
Has this gender difference changed over the time period shown?
b
Suggest reasons for any changes observed.
Q6
Q7
All users will need to review the risk assessment information and may need to adapt it to local circumstances.
© 2015 University of York, developed by University of York Science Education Group.
This sheet may have been altered from the original.
Page 2 of 2