MORE people are dying early from heart and circulatory diseases in Barnsley, new figures have revealed.
It comes as poorer people across England are increasingly more likely to die early from these conditions.
The British Heart Foundation, which conducted the research, said the nation was ‘in the grip of a historic heart crisis’, and called for every party to make heart disease a priority ahead of the general election.
Data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows there were an average of 741 deaths linked to cardiovascular disease from 2020 to 2022 in Barnsley.
This was an increase from 617 in 2017 to 2019.
This gave it a rate of 107 premature deaths per 100,000 people, higher than the English average of 79.
Men living in the most deprived parts of England saw the biggest increase in premature deaths.
Their rate has risen to 153 per 100,000 people, up from 129 in 2019.
In Barnsley, the male premature death rate was 138 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to 77 for women.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF, said: “We’re in the grip of a historic heart crisis.
“Without urgent action, the heart health gap between the richest and poorest will continue to grow even wider.”
