(de-news.net) – The number of heart attacks in Germany is decreasing, particularly among men. This trend is attributed to improved medical care and increased awareness of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, according to KKH in Hannover. Overall, cancer mortality is declining, especially among younger people, which indicates improvements in treatment options and early detection, the statutory health insurance company stated. In turn, official statistics show that in 2024, heart diseases, primarily heart attacks, accounted for 33.7% of all deaths, while cancer was responsible for 22.9% of fatalities.
The incidence of heart attacks in Germany has decreased, with a 18.5% reduction in men and 13.7% in women between 2014 and 2024, according to figures of the health insurer. This positive trend is attributed to advancements in medical care and greater awareness of cardiovascular diseases. Key factors like regular exercise, healthy diets, smoking cessation, and stress management play a role in lowering heart attack risks. However, heart attacks remain a leading cause of death, KKH cautioned.
Cancer mortality has increased in absolute terms but decreased in relative terms, particularly among younger and middle-aged individuals, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) recently reported. The age-standardized cancer death rate decreased from 322.4 per 100,000 in 2004 to 273.5 in 2024. This decline is largely due to improvements in treatment, early detection, and prevention. In 2024, around 1.45 million patients were hospitalized for cancer, reflecting a slight increase of 1.2% from the previous year, but a 5.6% decrease from 2004.
Nearly half of all Germans will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, with 49% of men and 43% of women affected, according to the Robert Koch Institute. Cancer is responsible for one in four male deaths and one in five female deaths. However, cancer mortality has decreased by 21% in women and 31% in men over the past 25 years, with rates in Germany slightly higher for women and lower for men compared to the EU. Globally, nearly 40% of cancer cases are preventable, with smoking, alcohol consumption, and infections being the leading risk factors, according to a study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In Germany, 30% of cancer cases in women and 39% in men are linked to preventable causes, with smoking alone responsible for over 12% of new cases in women and more than 23% in men.
