title: [Decreasing trend of cardiovascular mortality in Poland in the years 1980-2001].
abstract: In Poland, mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been systematically decreasing since 1990. The apparent change has been subject to a number of investigations during the last decade. The potential explanatory factors include favorable effects of socio-political and economic changes in Poland, decrease in the occurrence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, modification of diet and lifestyle, as well as advances in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, particularly in their acute, life-threatening stages. Hypothesis regarding a beneficial evolution of the occurrence of risk factors is not universally accepted. The lack of convincing explanation of the trend justified a revision of the mortality pattern, including analysis of the specific components of the overall category of CVD. The findings showed that during the period in question (1990-2001) some important specific mortality rates have increased and not decreased. The change was particularly apparent in terms of ischaemic heart disease and stroke. Assessment of available data reveals also a decrease in mortality rates due to hypertension and due to diseases of arteries. The results of analysis suggest a caution in exploring and interpreting of overall trend in cardiovascular mortality in Poland, during the last decade. Beneficial changes appear to be less promising when the mortality profile is examined via the contribution of specific diseases, components of the overall category of CVD, especially ischeamic heart disease and the stroke. The findings justify further exploration, involving also a potential effect of diagnostic shift in classification of causes of death.
authors.affiliation: Z Niepublicznego Zakładu Opieki Zdrowotnej w Chorzowie.
authors.forename: Dariusz F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Galus
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zejda
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control