Deaths in Northern Ireland, 2008

The number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland in 2008 was 14,900, a small increase on the 14,600 deaths registered in 2007. Cancer continues to be the most common cause of death with nearly 4,000 cancer deaths last year.These findings are contained in provisional 2008 mortality figures released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).In 2008, over half of all deaths were caused by three main diseases; cancer (4,000 deaths), ischaemic heart disease (2,400 deaths) and stroke (1,300 deaths). Whilst ischaemic heart disease deaths halved from 4,800 in 1978 to 2,400 last year; cancer deaths have risen from 2,900 in 1978 to 4,000 last year.Over the last few years we have seen marked increases in deaths recorded due to Alzheimer's and other dementia related illnesses; conditions largely associated with the elderly. In 2008, there were 290 deaths due to Alzheimer's disease and a further 520 deaths due to other forms of dementia. Deaths related to healthcare-associated infection also increased last year.