Heart disease most common health condition preventing people working

Chris Thomas, head of IPPR’s Commission on Health and Prosperity, said: “After great strides in tackling cardiovascular disease in the 20th century, the UK is now stalling, if not reversing. This is not just costing lives, but also livelihoods.

“The good news is that heart disease is one of the most preventable health conditions, but the Government has to get on to the front foot and deliver proactive policies. Both human lives and economic prosperity depend on it.”

John Maingay, director of policy at the British Heart Foundation, said: “These hugely concerning findings show the profound impact heart disease is having on our health and wealth. 

“So much cardiovascular disease is preventable, and this report clearly shows how much we could gain as a society if we take bold action to address one of the nation’s biggest causes of death and disability

Heart deaths at 14-year high

“But at the moment, every part of the system providing heart care is in urgent need of attention, from prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, to crucial research that could give us faster and better treatments. 

“And, worryingly, premature deaths from heart disease are at a 14-year high. 

“We can’t ignore this any longer – politicians must get a grip of this crisis, so we can build a healthier and wealthier nation for all.”

Commenting on the ONS figures, Christopher Rocks, lead economist for the Health Foundation’s Commission for Healthier Working Lives, said: “Today’s revised figures indicate that 2.8 million people aged 16-64 are not in the workforce due to ill health – this is even higher than previously thought and appears to still be on an upward trajectory.”

“With 688,000 more people out of the workforce since before the pandemic, 6.6 per cent of 16 to 64-year-olds are now economically inactive for health reasons, a record high since 1993.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “This Government has already taken significant action to reduce cardiovascular disease and its causes, but we know there is more to do.

“Our Major Conditions Strategy will look at the prevention and management of conditions including cardiovascular disease while our plans to create a smokefree generation represent the most significant public health intervention in living memory.

“In addition, we are investing almost £17 million in an innovative new digital NHS Health Check, expected to deliver an additional one million health checks in its first four years and £10 million into rolling out a pilot for workplace cardiovascular disease checks in 2024.”