Aims: For risk assessment in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, different risk charts are used for high-risk and low-risk countries. The objective of the present study was to analyse the current regional variation in cardiovascular mortality within Europe.
Methods and results: Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) from data provided by Eurostat and the National Statistical Offices of the respective countries (2000). For age-standardization, the European standard population (1976) was taken. Rates were calculated both on a national and on a regional level. There is still a clear north-east to south-west gradient in mortality from IHD. With regard to CVD, there appears to be a 'green' circle of reduced mortality in the centre of Western Europe including countries such as France or the northern regions of Italy and Spain. Countries with higher mortality rates, such as the Central and East European countries as well as some Mediterranean countries including Greece, Portugal, and certain regions in Southern Spain and Italy, surround this circle.
Conclusion: There is a changing pattern of cardiovascular mortality within Europe, which needs to be taken into account in the definition of high- and low-risk countries in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.