There is a record prevalence of cardiovascular, respiratory and cancerous conditions in England, with the proportion of patients with cancer (excluding non-melanotic skin cancers) more than doubling in just over a decade.
This is according to analysis by Broadstone of the Department of Health and Social Care’s latest health trends data for England which shows record prevalence of serious health conditions.
When records began in 2009/10, 776,000 people or 1.4% of the English population had diagnosed cancer (excluding non-melanotic skin cancers) according to practice disease registers.
But Broadstone said this doubled to 3% in 2018/19 and has subsequently increased to 3.6% or 2.3 million people in 2023/24 – the latest financial year.
The findings follow the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) cancer waiting time statistics for England which showed that the percentage of patients waiting longer than the 62-day standard and 31-day standard for cancer treatment in England has more than tripled over the past 12 years.
In the second quarter of 2024, 33.4% were waiting longer than the 62-day standard, compared with 11.0% in Q1 2012.
Broadstone noted there should be no more than 62 days between a cancer referral being received by a hospital (specialist) to when a patient starts treatment.
Broadstone also found that in Q2 2024, 8.9% of patients were waiting longer than the 31-day standard for treatment, compared with just 1.6% in Q1 2012.
It said there should be no more than 31 days from the “decision-to-treat” a cancer patient to when the patient starts treatment.
And for cardiovascular risks, diabetes prevalence increased to a record 7.7% in 2023/24, a significant rise from 6.9% in 2018/19, and up from 5.4% in 2009/10 when records began.
Among all ages, stroke, high blood pressure, and heart failure prevalence also hit record high levels in the latest financial year, with heart failure seeing the most significant increases in the last 10 years.
And in 2009/10, the proportion of people with recorded heart failure stood at 0.72%, which has now increased significantly to 1.06% in 2023/24.
Brett Hill, head of health and protection at Broadstone, said the data underscored the value of embedding ‘prevention’ at the heart of employee benefit programmes.
“It’s deeply concerning to see the increasing prevalence of chronic, life-threatening conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes,” Hill said.
“While various factors contribute to these rising numbers, they coincide with lengthening NHS waiting lists and reduced access to timely primary care, issues that have worsened since the pandemic.
“Early detection and treatment are crucial, but with the NHS under immense strain, many cases go undiagnosed and untreated, leaving people at greater risk.
“In response, employers are increasingly focusing on preventative health strategies, such as comprehensive private medical insurance (PMI), private GP services, and regular health screenings.
“These proactive measures not only protect employee health but also help reduce the long-term costs of healthcare by preventing more serious conditions from developing.”