Stats SA: Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 17.8% of SA deaths in 2024 - IOL

South Africa’s heart health burden is reflected in the thousands of lives lost to cardiovascular disease each year, with the latest mortality figures showing that heart-related conditions remain a major contributor to deaths in the country.

On the back of Heart Awareness Month and World Heart Day on September 29, the figures from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) highlight the scale of the problem, while health experts point to the everyday lifestyle and dietary choices that can influence heart health.

In 2024, South Africa recorded 474 366 registered deaths. More than 60% were attributed to chronic diseases, the highest proportion recorded since 1997.

“In 2024, a total of 474 366 individual deaths were registered with the Department of Home Affairs, with chronic diseases accounting for more than 60% of all registered deaths, the highest proportion since 1997,” Stats SA reveals.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which include hypertensive diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, other forms of heart disease and ischaemic heart diseases, accounted for 17.8% of all deaths in 2024.

Over the decade from 2014 to 2024, CVDs accounted for an average of 17.9% of all deaths.

“The burden of CVDs also shows a clear sex and age differential,” Stats SA said.

The difference becomes particularly apparent as people age.

Among men, cardiovascular mortality accelerated sharply from the age of 40, reaching its highest number in the 65–69 age group, with 5 176 deaths. Among women, deaths remained lower than those of men until the 65–69 age group, where 5 015 deaths were recorded. From age 70, however, female deaths surpassed male deaths, reaching a peak of 5 903 deaths among women aged 80–84.

Two cardiovascular conditions feature prominently in South Africa’s mortality profile: hypertension and cerebrovascular disease, which includes stroke.

Hypertensive diseases accounted for 5.5% of all registered deaths in 2024, while cerebrovascular diseases accounted for 5.4%. They ranked second and third respectively among the leading causes of death, behind diabetes at 6.1%.

For men, hypertensive diseases ranked fourth, accounting for 4.1% of male deaths. Cerebrovascular diseases ranked second at 4.5%.

Among women, hypertension ranked second at 7.1%, while cerebrovascular diseases ranked third at 6.4%.

Stats SA also found provincial differences. Hypertensive diseases were the leading cause of death in six provinces, while cerebrovascular diseases were the leading cause in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

The figures come against a backdrop of changing lifestyles and food consumption patterns.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa estimates that approximately 225 South Africans die from heart disease every day, about 82 125 deaths a year.

The organisation has pointed to urbanisation and changing diets as factors that warrant attention. About 67% of South Africans live in urban areas, where diets can involve greater exposure to processed foods, sugary drinks and higher-kilojoule meals, alongside lower consumption of whole fruit and vegetables.

Registered dietitian and Danone Southern Africa Head of Public Affairs Leane Kiezer said heart-conscious eating did not have to mean eliminating foods or pursuing perfection.

“Potassium helps support healthy blood pressure by balancing the effects of sodium (usually from salt) in the diet. Calcium is essential for normal muscle function, including the heart muscle, while protein helps keep you fuller for longer, making it easier to make nourishing food choices throughout the day,” Kiezer said.

She highlighted yoghurt as one possible source of protein, calcium and potassium, while noting that researchers were also examining the potential role of live cultures and gut microbiota in cardiovascular health.

Cooking oil is another area where consumers can make choices, according to independent nutrition and dietetics consultant Megan Pentz-Kluyts, speaking on behalf of B-well.

“Finding balance in your diet should not mean sacrificing the meals or food items that bring joy in your life. It’s about making the choice that offers the best of both; taste and health can co-exist just like two sides of the same coin,” Pentz-Kluyts said.

She pointed to canola oil’s relatively low saturated-fat content and its omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, while advocating for diets that include whole fruit, vegetables and healthier fats.

The widely discussed 80/20 approach offers another way of thinking about dietary habits: making nutrient-rich foods the majority of daily choices while allowing room for occasional indulgence.

But the Stats SA figures underline why heart health requires more than an annual check-up.

With cardiovascular disease accounting for nearly one in five registered deaths in 2024, Heart Awareness Month provides a reminder that prevention is also shaped by what happens between medical appointments, from what is put on the family table to how consistently people manage known risk factors and seek medical care.