Poverty 'is killing Scots OAPs'

Heating homes can be a struggle for the elderly

Poverty is the main cause of premature death among the elderly in Scotland, a study has found.

The joint report by a charity and university found the number of elderly mortalities over winter was directly linked to a region's deprivation.

The Energy Action Scotland and University of Strathclyde study concluded that warm homes save lives.

The chance of premature death was highest among OAPs in Glasgow and lower in rural or more well-off areas.

Pensioners in Scotland's biggest city were found to be most at risk, with one-in-36 of those aged over 65 dying during the winter months.

These deaths are essentially preventable if the elderly live in warm, dry homes Dr Stirling Howieson University of Strathclyde

Glasgow is the poorest region on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation as published by the Scottish Executive.

It does not compare favourably with Scottish cities that are generally colder but have higher levels of affluence.

The risk of premature death among pensioners in Edinburgh was one-in-48, and one-in-44 in Aberdeen.

Energy Action Scotland director Ann Loughrey said: "We need to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and the effect this has on health."

She said the deaths appeared not to be influenced significantly by climate, house type, energy efficiency and access to the gas network.

Cold conditions

The study appeared to disprove a perception that rural areas would suffer higher death rates among pensioners.

In Dumfries and Galloway the rate was one-in-64 while Shetland and Orkney recorded one-in-45 deaths, said the authors.

Least at risk in Scotland were those elderly living in North Ayrshire, where the figure fell to one-in-68.

We have made significant strides in tackling fuel poverty, the numbers have been reduced by half Margaret Curran Communities minister

Dr Stirling Howieson, of the University of Strathclyde's department of architecture and building science, said the deaths were fully avoidable.

He said: "Winter deaths occur mainly among the elderly and about 90% are from heart, stroke and respiratory diseases.

"All of these are known to be exacerbated by cold living conditions. These deaths are essentially preventable if the elderly live in warm, dry homes."

The Scottish Executive defended its record on pensioner poverty.

Communities Minister Margaret Curran said: "We have made significant strides in tackling fuel poverty, the numbers have been reduced by half.

"We've got a significant central heating programme, probably the most popular programmes ever inaugurated by government, we are really beginning to bite into this problem."