Deaths from heart disease fall by a third

The number of people dying from heart disease has fallen by more than a third in the past 10 years, thanks to a decline in smoking.

Better treatment and early detection also played a part in the dramatic reduction, which has seen a 35.9 per cent drop in deaths for those under 75 since 1999.

The figures in a report published recently suggest the UK is on course to meet the target of at least a 40 per cent reduction by 2010.

But despite significant improvements, heart disease continues to be Britain's biggest killer, with about 270,000 heart attacks occurring every year.

The report, Shaping the Future, said the estimated number of lives saved through the use of cholesterol-busting statins has tripled since 2000. Twice as many people now receive appropriate heart drugs within half an hour of arriving at hospital as in 2000.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt says, "This report shows the fantastic achievements the NHS has made since 2000."