Abstract
BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world. Large variations in CVD mortality between countries and also between population subgroups within countries have been observed. Previous studies showed significantly lower risks in German repatriates and Jews emigrating from Russia than in the general Russian population. We examined to what degree the migration of large subgroups influenced national CVD mortality rates.MethodsWe used WHO data to map the CVD mortality distribution in Europe in 2005. Supplemented by data of the Statistisches Bundesamt, the mortality trends in three major CVD groups between 1980 and 2007 in Russia and Germany are displayed, as well as demographic information. The effects of migration on demography were estimated and percentage changes in CVD mortality trends were calculated under the assumption that migration had not occurred.ResultsCardiovascular disease mortality patterns within Europe showed a strong west-east gradient with ratios up to sixfold. In Germany, the CVD mortality levels were low and steadily decreasing, whereas in Russia they fluctuated at high levels with substantial differences between the sexes and strong correlations with political changes and health campaigns. The trends in both Russia and Germany were affected by the migration that occurred in both countries over recent decades. However, our restricted focus in only adjusting for the migration of German repatriates and Jews had moderate effects on the national CVD mortality statistics in Germany (+1.0%) and Russia (-0.6%).ConclusionsThe effects on CVD mortality rates due to migration in Germany and Russia were smaller than those due to secular economical changes. However, migration should still be considered as a factor influencing national mortality trends.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world
The lowest rates are found in France, the highest rates for males in Russia (1145.11), and the highest rates for females in the Republic of Moldova (750.2; see Figure 3)
The trend in the German population size was greatly influenced by the large group of German repatriates (Figure 4)
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world. Large variations in CVD mortality between countries and between population subgroups within countries have been observed. We examined to what degree the migration of large subgroups influenced national CVD mortality rates. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most frequent cause of death in the industrialized world [1] and is often a consequence of an arteriosclerotic process with a complex background. The major CVD risk factors in Cardiovascular disease mortality has a distinct spatial and temporal pattern. While there has been a strong decline in many western countries over the last few decades, in other parts of Europe the pattern is not as pronounced, and in Eastern Europe increases in CVD mortality have been observed [9,10]
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