Country Spotlight on South Africa

Heart Foundation of South Africa
2001-05-18

These sobering statistics can not be ignored.

The following information appears courtesy of the Heart Foundation of South Africa�s web site at http://www.heartfoundation.co.za/index.html.

Numbers:

1994 Mortality Figures for Cardiovascular Disease(CVD):
Percentage of all male deaths from CVD: 16,39%
Percentage of female deaths from CVD: 22,98%
(Figures obtained from the Medical Research Council, or MRC)

Cost of Cardiovascular Disease:

A recent study emanating from the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town and the Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle Programme at the Medical Research Council (MRC) reveals that:
* The estimated cost of cardiovascular disease in South Africa in 1991 was between 4,135 billion and 5,035 billion Rand. This does not include the cost of rehabilitation and follow up of CVD. About three quarters of the direct costs were carried by the private sector.
* The direct health care costs were � 42% of the total costs. The indirect cost reflects the balance and includes the loss of productivity and earnings lost as a result of premature death.
* CVD mortality costs amounted to � 1,864 Rand and morbidity � 999,2 million Rand.
* The expenditure on CVD in state hospitals was � 461,3 billion Rand.

Smoking statistics

The latest study on the status of smoking in South Africa has revealed that one in three (7 million) adult South Africans smoke, and this figure is rising:
* 52% of South African men smoke
* 17% of South African women smoke
* Overall national smoking rates have increased by 3% since 1992
* One in nine deaths nationally is related to tobacco use

Provinces with the highest smoking rates:
* Northern Cape (55%)
* Western Cape (48%)
* North West Province (46%)