The mortality rate in Slovakia fell by 0.2 per thousand to 10/1,000 in 2008 in comparison to the previous year, according to a report released by the Health Ministry on July 27, the TASR newswire reported.
“Since 2004, we have been noticing a trend in growth of reproduction rates - the birth rate has risen slightly, the rate of abortions has fallen, the annual rate of population growth has been positive, with higher figures in 2008,” says the report about the population of Slovakia in 2006-2008.
The most frequent causes of death in 2007 were cardiovascular diseases, tumours, external causes, and breathing and digestive diseases. The report goes on to say that, despite some decline in mortality related to cardiovascular diseases, Slovakia still has among the worst figures in Europe.
Mortality related to cancerous tumours has been steady since 2003 both among men and women. On the other hand, there has been a rise in incidence of adult diabetes, chronic lung diseases and bronchial asthma. The number of psychiatric examinations has been steadily increasing since 2000, when statistical surveys in this sphere were introduced, TASR wrote. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
