Northern Ireland families could see fewer early heart deaths

Health & Wellness Desk 2026-10-22 16:05 3 min read

Mussenden Temple sits atop a scenic cliff overlooking the Northern Ireland coastline at sunset.

The British Heart Foundation says stronger prevention could help prevent up to 2,500 premature cardiovascular deaths in Northern Ireland over the next Assembly mandate. Its report, launched at Parliament Buildings on 20 October, urges political parties to make reducing early deaths a priority ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.

The estimate is a call for action, not a guaranteed outcome. The report says stronger measures could prevent up to 500 people dying prematurely each year.

Three measures proposed to reduce risk

The British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland report, Northern Ireland’s Hearts Need More: Making prevention a priority, sets out three proposals: restrict price and location-based promotions of food and drink high in fat, salt and sugar; work towards a smoke-free Northern Ireland by 2035; and establish a dedicated programme to identify and manage cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Northern Ireland families could see fewer early heart deaths

The proposed risk-management programme would help find and support people with undiagnosed or poorly managed high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The foundation says around 400,000 people in Northern Ireland have high blood pressure, and estimates that as many as 100,000 may not know it.

More than 230,000 people live with cardiovascular disease

More than 230,000 people in Northern Ireland are living with cardiovascular disease, according to the report, and around 4,400 die from it each year. In 2024, 1,330 people died from cardiovascular disease before the age of 75. The report describes this as the highest annual number of premature cardiovascular deaths in Northern Ireland since 2010.

The foundation says about 70% of the cardiovascular disease burden is associated with modifiable risk factors. It argues that earlier detection and management could prevent some avoidable illness, hospital stays and deaths. The Northern Ireland report provides further context on the prevention proposals.

Families share the impact of sudden loss

The campaign includes accounts from families affected by heart attacks. Terry Rice, from Newry, is speaking about his husband, Derek Waters, who died suddenly following a heart attack aged 61. The Huffington family from Portstewart are sharing the story of Garry, their husband and father, who also died suddenly following a heart attack.

Fearghal McKinney, head of the foundation’s Northern Ireland team, said the region should find and manage people’s risks earlier instead of waiting until they become seriously ill. He said political parties have an opportunity to make cardiovascular disease prevention a priority as the 2027 election approaches.

Report calls for action during next Assembly mandate

The report says Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without a strategic plan for cardiovascular disease detection and management. Prof Patrick Donnelly, consultant cardiologist and Northern Ireland cardiac rehabilitation and prevention lead, said this leaves access to services and expertise uneven.

The foundation is asking every political party to commit to reducing premature cardiovascular deaths. The report’s proposals focus on food promotions, tobacco control and earlier identification of high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Source: British Heart Foundation News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source and checks

This report attributes the figures and proposals to the British Heart Foundation’s Northern Ireland report and campaign statements.

Checks

Kept the death and prevalence figures attributed to the report.
Presented the 2,500 estimate as a potential outcome, not a guaranteed reduction.
Preserved the report’s three proposed prevention measures.
Retained the stated launch date and 2027 election context.

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