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CVD and cancer were the biggest killers in Luxembourg in 2015, causing over half of deaths, according to new figures published by the health ministry.

Three in every ten deaths registered in Luxembourg in 2015 (1,187) were related to CVD, a proportion which has, however, fallen, down from 40% of deaths in 2005 to 30.2%. CVDs were also the number 1 cause of death globally.

Cancer was responsible for 28.2% of all deaths (1,108 people), up from 25.8% in 2005. Lung cancer (148), colorectal cancer (57) and prostate cancer (57) were the commonest fatal cancers among men while breast cancer (97), lung cancer (80) and colorectal cancer (58) were the main causes of cancer-related deaths among women.

Respiratory diseases

Respiratory diseases were the third leading cause of death in 2015 with 8.2% of total deaths (323 people), while external causes were responsible for 7.2% of deaths. A total of 81 deaths were attributable to suicide or unintended events (61 men and 20 women). In addition, 56 people died as a result of a fall and 36 people as a result of a traffic accident (29 men and 7 women).
While they do not make up a large proportion of deaths, the health ministry noted an increase in mental and behavioural-related mortality (mainly dementia) since 2011, from 99 cases in 2011 to 231 cases in 2015.