A statistical report on mortality in England and Wales in 2001 included information on: deaths and death rates by age, sex and marital status; death rates by area for selected causes; infant mortality rates for selected causes; and life expectancy. The average age at death was 73.2 years for males and 79.4 years for females.
Source: Mortality Statistics 2001: General, England and Wales, Series DH1 34, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Dec
The main causes of death in 2002 were circulatory diseases, which include coronary heart disease and strokes, (39 per cent), cancers (26 per cent) and respiratory diseases (13 per cent), according to a detailed analysis of deaths occurring in England and Wales.
Source: Mortality Statistics: Cause, England and Wales, 2002, Series DH2 29, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Dec
Life expectancy at birth in England and Wales in 2000-2002 was 75.9 years for males and 80.6 years for females. The figures were a three-year average for 2000-2002, using populations based on the 2001 Census results.
Source: Life Expectancy at Birth: Local and health authorities in England and Wales, 2000-2002, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Tables (Excel file) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
An article looked at trends in excess winter mortality since 1950. Levels of excess winter mortality had decreased over the period, although substantial year-on-year variability persisted. The months from December to March had above-average mortality levels, and the months from May to October had consistently below-average mortality.
Source: Helen Johnson and Clare Griffiths, 'Estimating excess winter mortality in England and Wales', Health Statistics Quarterly 20, Winter 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
A report investigated the rise in the stillbirth rate between 2001 and 2002 - the first since the change in the stillbirth definition in 1992. The increase showed no clear relationship with birthweight, age of mother, gestation, sex, mother's country of birth or cause of stillbirth.
Source: 'Investigation into the increase in stillbirth rate in 2002 in England and Wales', Health Statistics Quarterly 20, Winter 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
An article analysed trends in social class differences in mortality by cause of death over the 1990s. Between 1986-92 and 1997-99, death rates among men from coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease/stroke and lung cancer fell in all social classes, but they fell more rapidly for those in professional classes. Death rates from respiratory disease fell among professional classes, but rose among those in unskilled and semi-skilled social classes. Among women, there was an increase in the inverse social gradient in breast cancer, which contributed to a reduction in overall social class differences.
Source: Chris White, Folkert van Galen and Yuan Huang Chow, 'Trends in social class differences in mortality by cause, 1986 to 2000', Health Statistics Quarterly 20, Winter 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
Final data on the number of deaths that occurred in England and Wales during 2002 were published. There were an estimated 27,230 excess deaths during the 2001-02 winter; and 24,000 (provisional estimate) during the 2002-03 winter. Campaigners called for an extra 4 billion in funding for energy efficiency programmes to end the 'scandal' of excess winter deaths.
Source: Press release 30 October 2003, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034) | Press release 30 October 2003, National Energy Action (0191 261 5677)
Links: ONS press release (pdf) | NEA press release | Age Concern press release
Date: 2003-Oct
A report presented statistics on stillbirths and infant deaths (under one year of age) that occurred in England and Wales in 2002 and that had been linked to their corresponding birth records. Babies of mothers born in Pakistan had the highest infant mortality rate (11.4 per 1,000 live births), more than double the overall infant mortality rate (5.2 per 1,000 live births). The infant mortality rate for births outside marriage jointly registered by both parents (living at different addresses) was 42 per cent higher than the overall infant mortality rate.
Source: 'Infant and perinatal mortality by social and biological factors, 2002', Health Statistics Quarterly 20, Winter 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
An annual compendium of health statistics showed that the United Kingdom was no longer the 'sick man' of Europe. Compared to other European Union countries and the United States of America, mortality rates among the four biggest killer diseases (coronary heart disease, stroke, breast cancer and lung cancer) were falling 'dramatically'. The UK's performance was particularly noteworthy in comparison to France, the leading healthcare system in the world according to the World Health Organisation in 2000.
Source: Compendium of Health Statistics: 15th edition, 2003-2004, Office of Health Economics (020 7930 9203)
Links: OHE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Sep
Revised figures (based on the 2001 Census) were published on life expectancy at birth for the whole of the United Kingdom. (This followed the addition of revised data for Scotland and Northern Ireland to that already available for England and Wales.)
Source: Life Expectancy at Birth by Health and Local Authorities in the United Kingdom, 1991-1993 to 1999-2001: Revised figures using 2001 Census based population estimates, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | ONS life expectancy homepage
Date: 2003-Aug
Provisional statistics were published on live births, stillbirths and infant deaths registered in 2002 in England and Wales, for each government office region and strategic health authority in England, and health authority in Wales. In 2002 there were 596,122 live births in England and Wales compared with 594,634 in 2001, an increase of 0.25 per cent. There were 3,372 stillbirths in England and Wales in 2002 and 1,633 deaths at ages under seven days. The stillbirth and perinatal mortality rates increased for the first time since a new definition of stillbirths came into operation in 1993.
Source: 'Infant and perinatal mortality 2002: health areas, England and Wales', Health Statistics Quarterly 19, Autumn 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
An article presented the numbers of deaths from all causes registered in England and Wales in 2002 and standardised mortality ratios, both shown by area of usual residence of the deceased.
Source: 'Death registrations in England and Wales, 2002: area of residence', Health Statistics Quarterly 19, Autumn 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
An article updated previous work that investigated the trends in mortality in young adults aged 15-44 in England and Wales. (Mortality rates steadily declined in all age groups from 1900 onwards: but in the mid-1980s among young adults this decline began to slow in women, and the death rates in men began to increase.)
Source: Anita Brock and Clare Griffiths, 'Trends in the mortality of young adults aged 15 44 in England and Wales, 1961 to 2001', Health Statistics Quarterly 19, Autumn 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
Provisional statistics were published on sudden infant deaths in England and Wales in 2002. A total of 187 sudden infant deaths occurred, compared with 240 in 2001, a decrease of 22 per cent. The sudden infant death rate fell from 0.40 per 1,000 live births in 2001 to 0.31 in 2002. The sudden infant death rate was highest for babies of mothers aged under 20 at the time of the birth (0.97 per 1,000 live births).
Source: 'Sudden infant deaths, 2002', Health Statistics Quarterly 19, Autumn 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
An article examined the effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on mortality from injury and poisoning in England and Wales.
(From January 2001 deaths in England and Wales have been coded to the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases - 'ICD-10'.)
Source: Clare Griffiths and Cleo Rooney, 'The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on trends in mortality from injury and poisoning in England and Wales', Health Statistics Quarterly 19, Autumn 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
A total of 535,356 deaths were registered in England and Wales in 2002, compared with 532,498 in 2001, an increase of 0.5 per cent. The provisional death rate, based on mid-2001 population estimates, was 10.3 per thousand population. The infant mortality rate continued its long-term decline to the lowest ever recorded figure, at 5.3 deaths per thousand live births.
Source: Press release 13.4.03, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-May
An article examined trends in mortality over the twentieth century, taking into account changes in the way diseases had been classified. Around 80 per cent of deaths occurred at ages over 65 in 2000, compared with around 20 per cent in 1901.
Source: Clare Griffiths and Anita Brock, 'Twentieth century mortality trends in England and Wales', Health Statistics Quarterly 18, Summer 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-May
The main causes of death in England and Wales in 2002 were cancer (26 per cent of all deaths), ischaemic heart disease (19 per cent), respiratory diseases (13 per cent), and stroke and related conditions (11 per cent).
Source: 'Death registrations in England and Wales, 2002, by cause', Health Statistics Quarterly 18, Summer 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-May
Interim life expectancy tables were published for 1999-2001. (The tables are produced annually for the United Kingdom and its constituent countries, based on the population estimates and deaths data, for a period of three consecutive years.)
Source: Historical Interim Life Tables, Government Actuary's Department (020 7211 2600)
Links: Link to tables
Date: 2003-Apr
Research revealed that death rates among Scots aged 15-74 are the highest of any country in western Europe.
Source: David Leon, Susan Morton, Suzanne Cannegieter and Martin McKee, Understanding the Health of Scotland s Population in an International Context, Public Health Institute of Scotland (0141 300 1010)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (Word file) | Press release | Observer article
Date: 2003-Mar
There were 3,240 infant deaths (under one year of age) in England and Wales in 2001, compared with 3,377 in 2000 - a fall of 4.1 per cent. The infant mortality rate in 2001 decreased to 5.4 per 1,000 live births from 5.6 per 1,000 in 2000.
Source: Mortality Statistics: Childhood, Infant and Perinatal - 2001, Series DH3 34, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Mar
A report was published of a project aimed at exploring the extent of relative and absolute change in a range of health and well-being measures for small geographical areas across Scotland.
Source: Geographical and Time Trend Analyses: Questionnaire survey of selected public organisations in Scotland, Public Health Institute of Scotland (0141 300 1010)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Mar
An article examined the implications of classification changes for the analysis of infant deaths (deaths under one year) in England and Wales in 2001. (Changes were introduced in 2001 which affected reporting of infant mortality by socio-economic status, with the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification replacing the Registrar General's Social Class.)
Source: Steve Rowan, 'Implications of changes in the UK social and occupational classifications on infant mortality statistics', Health Statistics Quarterly 17, Spring 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb
Figures were published for life expectancy at birth, analysed by local authority in England and Wales, for the years 1991-93 to 1999-2001. The figures were revised to take into account the 2001 Census results. Ten areas were identified where female life expectancy dropped over the period.
Source: Life Expectancy at Birth by Local Authority in England and Wales 1991-1993 to 1999-2001, Office for National Statistics (020 7533 5210)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb