Cardiovascular mortality in Central and Eastern Europe: differences and similarities

Abstract

Objective. To identify differences and similarities in trends and patterns of cardiovascular mortality in Central (Romania and Poland) and Eastern (Moldova and Ukraine) European countries before and after the political transition. Material and methods. The mortality series reconstructed according to ICD-10 since 1970 for Moldova, Ukraine and Poland and since 1980 for Romania were used. Directly standardized death rates by sex, age and detailed cardiovascular disease were computed. Results. After a long period of stagnation or rise, cardiovascular mortality started declining after 1991 in Poland, 1995 in Moldova, 1997 in Romania and 2005 in Ukraine. The progress in Romania and Poland was associated with both heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. In Moldova and Ukraine, the recent improvements were primarily related to cerebrovascular diseases. Compared to Central Europe, the quality of codification of heart diseases was found poor in Eastern Europe. Conclusions. The lack of effective control of mortality from heart diseases is the major public health problem in Moldova and in pre-war Ukraine. Romania and Poland follow very similar mortality patterns and trends, though with a certain time lag.