Approximately one third of deaths reported in Cyprus in 2018, which amounted to 5,963, stemmed from diseases of the circulatory systems, according to data released by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat).

Total deaths recorded including Cypriot residents and non-residents, amounted to 5,963, of which 52.9% (3,157 deaths) were men and 47.1% (2,806 deaths) were women.

According to Cystat, the main causes of death were diseases of the circulatory system (29,9%), neoplasms (24,9%), diseases of the respiratory system (9,0%), endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (7,0%), as well as external causes of injury and poisoning (6,0%). Other causes of death follow with lower frequencies.

During 2018, 83,937 patients were treated and discharged from the general hospitals of the public sector compared to 81,988 in 2017, marking an increase of 2.4%. Patients treated in rural hospitals of Kyperounta and Polis declined by 10.9% to 1,386 from 1,556 in 2017.

In 2018, the bed occupancy rate of the general hospitals of the public sector was 79.5%, from 75.6% the year before, while the respective rate for the rural hospitals in 2018 was 49.9%, from 51.8% in 2017.

Neoplasms with 13.4% have the highest share of the total patients discharged from general hospitals, followed by injuries, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes with 10.3%, diseases of the circulatory system with 9.6%, diseases of the digestive system with 9.2% and  diseases of the respiratory system with 8.1%.

All other disease categories account for 44.2%, whereas “Not stated” accounts for 5.2%, Cystat added.

Furthermore out-patients recorded in public medical institutions in 2018 amounted to 1,797,545, recording a marginal rise of 0,1% compared to 2017.

In 2018 a total of 294,966 patients visited the casualty departments, compared to 301,624 patients in 2017, recording a decrease of 2,2%, Cystat said.