Early deaths from cardiovascular disease three times higher in the poorest parts of Bristol

People living in the poorest parts of Bristol are three times more likely to die prematurely from cardiovascular disease compared to the wealthiest parts. It plans to spend £1.3m over the next few years to screen people aged over 40 for their risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Cardiovascular disease includes conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and there is a clear link between higher rates in poorer areas. GP surgeries give people checks to assess their risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which is largely preventable.

Bristol City Council pays GP surgeries to carry out the checks and a contract to do so was extended by councilors on the public health and community policy committee on Friday 21 June. But councilors said they were “shocked” by the huge difference in risk across the city.

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Labor councilor Emily Clarke said: “The statistics on inequality are quite shocking. Rates of premature death from cardiovascular disease are three times higher in the most deprived areas of Bristol compared to the most affluent areas.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Stephen Clarke, chairman of the committee, added: “There are huge disparities, often in communities living next to each other. I remember looking at cases of smoking and lung cancer.

“Henleaze, for example, had the highest life expectancy in the city and Southmead, right next door, had one of the lowest. There are similar differences between Knowle West and Bishopsworth and in the south of the city.”

People living in the wealthiest parts of Bristol, such as Westbury-on-Trym and Clifton, live on average a decade longer than people in the poorest parts, such as Lawrence Hill and Hartcliffe and Withywood. A quarter of this difference is due to cardiovascular disease.

Anyone aged between 40 and 74 is entitled to a free NHS health check. A doctor will take your blood pressure, measure your BMI, and take blood to check your cholesterol levels. They will also ask about smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity.

They then use the results, along with age, gender and ethnicity, to calculate an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease, such as having a heart attack or stroke. These risks are largely preventable and support is available for lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, losing weight and reducing alcohol consumption.

Carol Slater, head of public health, said: “People don’t necessarily see it as important to come. When you feel good, why would you go to the doctor? Men in particular are less likely to participate. We will look at targeted work for those people who are currently not coming. We know that South Asian men are particularly vulnerable to diabetes and heart attacks.”

Some people who are tested are surprised to find that their risk is quite high because factors such as cholesterol levels often show no symptoms. One organization, Caafi Health, also conducts health checks outside mosques and community centers, including blood pressure, blood sugar, as well as liver, cholesterol and kidney checks.

Green Cllr Abdul Malik said: “They have set up outside mosques and religious institutions and are doing basic health checks. In the past two months, one of the clinics identified at least eight elderly men of Asian origin who came out of the mosque and were monitored for cholesterol and had very high levels, although they had no symptoms.”

However, one problem is the difficulty many people report trying to book an appointment with their GP. There is a shortage of doctors and Bristol’s population has been growing rapidly for several years, creating additional demand.

Cllr Malik added: “After months of being scared and very agitated about their cholesterol, they reported that the lipid clinics were not giving them appointments. It was very difficult for them to get in touch with a GP, even if there was a referral, but lipid clinics are also very limited in Bristol.”