Heart diseases still top cause of fatality in the country, COVID-19 in 10th place, PSA report

Heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and cancer are still the main source of fatality in the country for the first 7 months this year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

It said that from January to July 2022, the country recorded 311,921 deaths, which is 31 percent lower than the 452,228 fatalities tallied last year.

The PSA said that during the 7-month period, ischemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death with 57,899 cases, which released its report last Wednesday. This represents 18.6 % of the total deaths in the country.

It was followed by Cerebrovascular diseases, which includes stroke and aneurysms, came in second with 32,354 deaths (10.4%).

While neoplasms, commonly known as cancer, accounted for 31,487 recorded cases (10.1%).

“Incidentally, these were also the leading causes of death in the same period in 2021,” the PSA said.

Fatalities from diabetes mellitus logged at 20,107 cases (6.4%), making it the fourth leading cause of death.

The fifth was hypertensive diseases, which recorded 17,999 cases (5.8 %).

Meanwhile, COVID-19 fatalities accounted for a total of 12,083 deaths (3.9%), the PSA said.

The PSA reports that COVID-19, with virus identified, was the 10th leading cause of death in the Philippines with 8,586 cases (2.8%).

On the other hand, registered deaths due to COVID-19, with virus not identified, accounted for 3,497 or (1.1%).

PSA explained that COVID-19-virus identified is used when COVID-19 is confirmed by a laboratory test, while COVID -19 virus is not identified is used for suspected or probable cases, as well as clinically-epidemiologically diagnosed COVID-19 cases where testing was not completed or inconclusive.

The agency said its figures may be different from the Department of Health (DOH) because it used death certificates.

The DOH figures were obtained through a surveillance system.

Metro Manila recorded the highest number of COVID-19 fatalities at 2,986 (24.7%).

It was followed by Calabarzon with 1,856 (15.4%) and Central Luzon with 1,573 (13%).