The pie charts compare the reasons why patients visited a city hospital in 1995 and 2022.
Overall, the pattern of hospital visits changed considerably. Accidents and infections became less common, while heart disease and, above all, cancer accounted for a larger proportion of patients.
In 1995 accidents were the most frequent reason, at 30%, followed by infections at 28% and heart disease at 20%. Cancer accounted for just 7% of visits, and other causes for 15%. By 2022 the order had changed. Accidents had dropped to 22% and infections had fallen sharply to only 12%, less than half of the 1995 figure.
Cancer showed the most notable increase. Its share climbed from 7% to 18%, more than double, so it was no longer one of the smallest categories. Heart disease also rose, from 20% to 24%, and became the joint largest reason, level with other causes, which had grown from 15% to 24%.
Taken together, accidents and infections accounted for 58% of visits in 1995 but only 34% in 2022.