‘Causes of death can be prevented’

THE main causes of mortality in the Western Cape are lifestyle-related and therefore preventable, the province’s latest economic outlook revealed.

Diabetes coupled with ischaemic heart diseases (heart problems caused by narrowed heart arteries) topped the list. Both ailments are worsened by intense stress.

Western Cape Health and Wellness MEC Nomafrench Mbombo said people’s stress levels were heightened by the Covid-19 lockdown and as a result, their health deteriorated.

Although stress doesn’t cause diabetes, it can affect blood sugar levels, said Dr Angelique Coetzee, head of the Solidarity Doctors’ Forum's advisory board. “Physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and an unhealthy weight are considered major risk factors for a number of harmful health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases,” Mbombo told the Weekend Argus, adding that stress and anxiety were in some cases the root of the problem.

Mbombo said people tended to eat more unhealthily and consume more drugs and alcohol during stricter lockdown levels, which triggered a myriad illnesses.

“The pandemic has had major socio-economic consequences impacting the social determinants of the health of our people,” the MEC said.

“Mental illness is exacerbated by the abuse of substances like drugs and alcohol. Besides the adverse effects on one’s health, substance abuse has given rise to mental illnesses in the province,” Mbombo said.

“There is mounting evidence of the significant negative impact of Covid-19 on the social determinants of mental ill-health resulting in increased anxiety, depression and suicides.

“People had to contend with heightened levels of anxiety and grief, an economic disaster and profound social and cultural dislocation.”

Since 2017 the number of suicides in the Western Cape increased by 28.2% to 857 in 2021. Over the five-year period, 4 080 people died by suicide in the Western Cape. The number of suicides was notably higher (19.1%) in 2021 when compared to 2020, according to the Provincial Economic Review and Outlook report.

The risk profile of ordinary South Africans indicates that nearly seven out of every 10 women and one in three men are overweight or obese; one in three women and one in five men have hypertension.

Between 11% and 13% may be diabetic or have impaired glucose tolerance.

Mbombo said she was committed to addressing these harmful health outcomes through the implementation of novel healthy lifestyles initiatives. These are aimed at promoting increased physical activity, healthy eating and healthy weight management to prevent and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in the Western Cape. “The first of such initiatives was Walk4Health tested in 2013,” said the head of the health department, Mark van der Heever.

Walk4Health entailed a six-week interdepartmental pedometer challenge involving all departments of the Western Cape government.