The term circulatory disease encompasses a number of different conditions, the most important of which are coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. These diseases are major killers and much effort is directed towards improvements in standards of care and management. In its 1998 report "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" (OHN), the Government set a target to achieve a 40% reduction in 'premature' mortality (deaths under the age of 75) due to circulatory disease between 1996 and 2010. The main aim for this chapter is to provide an overview of health outcomes and standards of care in Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside in the area of circulatory disease and to provide comparative figures for the North East and England as a benchmark.
