Rising Death Rates in the Soviet Union: The Impact of Coronary Heart Disease

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-21-1981

Abstract

Age-adjusted overall death rates in men and women in the Soviet Union began to rise in the mid-1960s; an 18 per cent increase occurred in the entire population from 1964 to 1975. The epidemic of coronary heart disease (CHD) appears to be the primary cause of this trend and has been particularly widespread among middle-aged men. Prospective epidemiologic studies and autopsy reports confirm the high prevalence rates of atherosclerosis and its complications. The major risk factors for CHD occur frequently in the Soviet population. The epidemic nature of the modern chronic diseases is dramatically apparent in the secular trends in Soviet vital statistics. A similar pattern of life style as related to risk of CHD in the Soviet Union and in Western capitalist countries further suggests a similar social basis for this epidemic in both areas. (N Engl J Med. 1981; 304:1259–65.) THE collection of complete and detailed vital statistics from countries all over the world since World War II has made it readily apparent that the contemporary mass diseases — primarily cardiovascular diseases and cancer — are occurring in epidemic form. Although the distribution of these modern pandemics is clearly related to age, it is no longer generally accepted that the process is one of aging itself; as Virchow recognized 100 years ago, mass disease has a social basis.1 The study of secular trends in disease provides invaluable clues to causation, thereby suggesting potential preventive measures, and such study has been. © 1981, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

New England Journal of Medicine

First Page

1259

Last Page

1265

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