Cardiovascular diseases and cancer were the leading causes of death in Cyprus in 2020, according to data released by the Ministry of Health on Monday.
More specifically, 28% of those who died in 2020 died from cardiovascular diseases (954 men and 917 women), 23% from malignant neoplasm (916 men and 614 women), 8% from respiratory diseases (284 men and 247 women), 8% from neuropsychiatric disorders (214 men and 289 women), 6% of diabetes mellitus (211 men and 190 women). Coronavirus accounted for 2% of all deaths in 2020, with 87 men and 44 women dying from it.
By gender, the leading causes of death in men were ischemic heart disease (11.6%) and lung cancer (7.4%). In women, ischemic heart disease was also the leading cause of death (7.5%), followed by Alzheimer’s and dementia (6.6%).
Most men who died of cancer had lung cancer (28%), colorectal cancer (9%) or prostate cancer (9%). Similarly, most women who died of cancer had breast cancer (19%), lung cancer (10%) or pancreatic cancer (9%).
Of the total number of deaths 37% concerned people aged 85 years and over, 18% people aged 80-84 years, 12% people aged 75-79 years, 10% people aged 70-74 years. The other age groups follow with smaller percentages.
In total, in 2020, there were 6,579 deaths, 3,487 men and 3,092 women. Compared to 2017-2019, the total number of deaths in 2020 was increased by 6%.
Source: Cyprus News Agency