Heart disease on the increase in young women

This disturbing trend, seen in women under the age of 50, could be linked to high levels of obesity, lack of excercise and smoking.

Steven Allender from the University of Oxford and colleagues from the University of Liverpool, UK studied information on all deaths in England and Wales between 1931 and 2005. They examined how CHD mortality rates had changed over time, for different sexes and age groups.

They found that CHD mortality rates in England and Wales rose steadily throughout the 20th century and peaked in the 1970s. In most groups, the rate of CHD mortality has been falling steadily since then. Recent generations have experienced much lower CHD mortality rates than those born in the late 19th or early 20th centuries.

Despite this, researchers have detected a levelling off and perhaps even a reversal of the rate of decline in CHD mortality in women under 50. Given that CHD causes over 100 000 deaths in the UK each year, such a trend would have serious implications for health-care provision in the future.

Another feature of the research is that the authors found that significant advances made in coronary heart disease mortality in older people - over the age of 60 - are not being seen among those who are younger, which could lead to an increased burden of heart disease if not remedied.