Research reveals a troubling resurgence in cardiovascular disease across the UK, with rising deaths, diagnoses and treatment delays posing a major threat to public health
CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared in The Herald
According to new analysis by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), heart-related conditions and deaths are increasing at a pace not seen in over half a century. The resurgence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is particularly hitting working-age adults, with deaths in this group rising by 18% -from 18,693 in 2019 to 21,975 in 2023. That equates to 420 lives lost every week.
Heart Failure, Diabetes and Atrial Fibrillation on the Rise
The BHF data reveals multiple concerning spikes in key heart health indicators between March 2020 and March 2024:
Heart Failure Diagnoses: Up 21%, reaching a record 785,000
Atrial Fibrillation Cases: Increased by 10% to 1.62 million
Adult Diabetes Cases: Rose by 12% to 4.6 million – an all-time high
These conditions significantly raise the risk of stroke and heart attacks and strain already overstretched healthcare services.
Soaring Treatment Delays Add to the Burden
Access to cardiac care in the UK has deteriorated significantly, placing further strain on an already overstretched healthcare system. In England, the number of people waiting for planned heart hospital treatment has surged by 83% – from 232,082 at the beginning of 2020 to 425,372 by March 2025. This dramatic rise highlights a mounting crisis in routine cardiovascular treatment and diagnosis.
Similar patterns are being reported in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where cardiac services are also under heavy pressure. The widening backlog reflects a system grappling with the enduring fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted services and delayed care across the board. In addition, chronic underfunding, growing demand and the overall worsening health of the population have combined to push cardiac waiting lists to record highs.
What Practice Managers Can Do Now
Primary care practices are on the front lines of the fight against worsening heart health, and practice managers play a vital role in reversing this trend. They can start by ensuring that early warning signs are flagged through regular screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, particularly in high-risk patients. Encouraging routine cardiovascular risk assessments, especially for middle-aged adults, is essential to catch potential issues before they escalate.
Practice managers should also facilitate access to lifestyle support programs, connecting patients with services for smoking cessation, weight management and increased physical activity. In addition, they must closely monitor cardiac care backlogs, actively tracking and triaging patients awaiting treatment and escalating cases where a decline in health is suspected.
Britain’s heart health is under siege, but this crisis need not define the future. Through consistent preventative vigilance at the community level, practice managers can help stem the rising tide of cardiovascular disease and improve long-term outcomes.
Be the first to comment