The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7488 p145
9 February 2008

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Cardiovascular mortality changing across Europe

Patterns of cardiovascular mortality across Europe are changing, a new study published online suggests (European Heart Journal 5 February 2008).

Researchers calculated age-standardised mortality rates across Europe for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). They found a north-east to south-west gradient in mortality for IHD, as previous researchers have. But for CVD they also found a circle of reduced mortality in the centre of Western Europe.

These regional variations are linked to a variety of factors, such as blood pressure, smoking prevalence and diet.