Almost half of deaths last year caused by circulatory system ills

Almost 46 per cent of deaths in Malta last year were caused by diseases of the circulatory system, something that makes it all the more important for people to tackle the risks of cardiovascular disease.

As World Heart Day - celebrated on Saturday - approaches, pharmaceutical company Sanofi Aventis yesterday held a symposium for the public to learn more about heart conditions.

The symposium - Change My Risk For A Healthy Heart - saw a number of local experts talking about the risk factors, including diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking and stress. Charmaine Gauci, the director of the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate, said local figures show that, like in other countries, the burden of cardiovascular disease is also being felt in Malta.

"We are very happy with this initiative, which targets a change in behaviour," Dr Gauci said of yesterday's symposium.

The series of talks by top experts was held at Mater Dei Hospital and was well attended.

She explained that while nothing can be done to eliminate a genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease other factors could be addressed.

Dr Gauci said her new directorate - set up recently by merging two other departments and would focus on communicable and non-communicable diseases incorporating health promotion - would put cardiovascular disease at the top of its agenda.

"We will be targeting the risk factors of cardio-vascular disease, which can also be risk factors for other diseases," she said.