Dudley Strategy for Tackling Health Inequalities 2010-15

Figure 7Causes contributing to total excess winter deathsProportion of selected diseases contributing to total excess winter deaths in Dudleyresidents over the period 2002/03 to 2006/07Certain infectiousand parasiticdiseases,3.0%Diseases of thedigestive system,3.7%Mental andbehaviouraldisorders ,4.0%Neoplasms,6.1%Other heartdisease,9.3%Others,9.8%Influenza andpneumonia,14.5%Other respiratorydiseases,8.4%COPD,6.9%Cerebrovasculardiseases,13.5%Ischaemic heartdisease,13.9%Other acute lowerrespiratorydiseases,4.8%Other chronic lowerrespiratory diseases,2.0%Almost all the major causes of death can contribute to winter mortality, (Figure 7) butthe most common causes are respiratory and circulatory diseases which account for70.3% of all deaths.Influenza and pneumonia account for 14.6% of the total; the largest singlecontributor of all the major causes. An increase in the uptake of the influenza vaccinewould make a real difference to premature deaths in this category, particularlyamongst vulnerable groups and the elderly. The Department of Health target foruptake of flu vaccine is 70% and Dudley has reached or exceeded this target from2006 to 2009 in the over 65s (Figure 8). Uptake amongst the under 65s has beenless successful and although there has been a year on year increase since 2006 itonly just reached 50% uptake against a Department of Health target of 60% by2009/10 (Figure 9).148