- Diseases of the heart and blood vessels cause almost half of the deaths in Slovakia.
- Tumor diseases are the second most common cause of death, the mortality rate is decreasing.
- Chronic diseases and lifestyle have a long-term effect on the health status of Slovaks.
Almost half of the deaths in Slovakia are caused by diseases of the heart and blood vessels, cancer remains the second most common cause. This follows from selected data from the Health Yearbook of the Slovak Republic for the year 2024, which was published by the National Center for Health Information (NCZI) on the occasion of the World Day of the Sick. NCZI communication specialist Simona Uhlárová Jarošová informed TASR about this.
“NCZI data show that the most significant health problems include diseases of the circulatory system, cancer, diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems, as well as problems with the musculoskeletal system,” said NCZI spokeswoman Alena Krčová. She added that the mortality rate of men has long been higher than the mortality rate of women, in all age groups. The biggest differences are manifested in the productive age, where the risk of death for men is approximately two and a half times higher.
Krčová emphasized that the long-term health status of Slovaks is mainly affected by chronic diseases, the incidence of which increases with age and is related to lifestyle, demographic development and the availability of health care.
Diseases of the circulatory system caused approximately 45 percent of deaths in 2024, accounted for half of all causes of death in women, and approximately 40 percent in men. At the same time, it was the most frequent reason for hospitalization. More than 157,000 hospitalizations were recorded in hospitals for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, which represents 14.6 percent of all hospitalizations. In 2024, the most new patients for hypertensive diseases were admitted to the regular follow-up of cardiology clinics.
The standardized mortality rate for diseases of the circulatory system decreased by approximately 16 percent compared to previous years (2015 to 2019 average), for both men and women. “Despite this favorable development, diseases of the heart and blood vessels remain the most significant factor affecting the life expectancy of Slovaks, especially in older age groups,” commented Uhlárová Jarošová.
13,337 people died of cancer in 2024, which corresponds to approximately a quarter of all deaths (with a slightly higher representation in men). At the same time, according to NCZI, more than 38,000 new cases of malignant tumors were identified, while the representation of men and women was almost equal. However, mortality from oncological diseases is gradually decreasing. “Although the incidence of cancer is increasing, the gradual decrease in mortality shows the importance of early diagnosis, screening programs and available treatment,” emphasized Krčová.
NCZI data also point to the scope of health care provision. In 2024, more than 68 million visits were made in outpatient clinics or as a visitor service, which represents an average of almost 13 examinations per year per inhabitant. The highest number of visits is recorded by general practitioner clinics for adults, where one doctor handled an average of more than 9,500 patient visits per year. In the case of general clinics for children and adolescents, it was 6,600 visits per year.
Hospitalization statistics show that after diseases of the circulatory system and cancer, among the most common reasons for hospitalization are diseases of the digestive system and musculoskeletal system. Among the specific diagnoses, heart failure, cerebral infarction, gallstones, arthrosis of the knee joint, femur fracture or pneumonia dominate.
NCZI also drew attention to reserves in prevention. Only 46 percent of the adult population received a preventive checkup in 2024, with the lowest participation among people aged 25 to 44. “Prevention has great potential. Regular preventive checkups can significantly reduce the incidence of chronic diseases,” reminded Krčová.
