Changes in CVD Incidence and Mortality Rates, and Life Expectancy: North Karelia and National

During the last 40 years, Finland has experienced a remarkable decline in coronary heart disease and stroke mortality. The latest coronary heart disease mortality figures in the working-age population are <20% of the top figures in the early 1970s. Equal declines can be seen in men and in women, and the improvement extends to elderly populations as well. However, due to the very high historic levels, Finland still continues to have clearly higher cardiovascular mortality than, for example, the Mediterranean countries. Parallel to the decline in cardiovascular mortality, the life expectancy of Finns has increased by 11.6 years in men and by 9.2 years in women. The probability for a 30-year-old man to die of cardiovascular disease has dropped from about 30% in 1970 to 7% in 2013, and for a 30-year-old woman, the corresponding probability has dropped from 13% to about 2%.

Highlights

• CHD mortality in persons ages 35 to 74 years has declined >80% in Finland.
• Stroke mortality in persons ages 35 to 84 years has declined >70%.
• Life expectancy of Finns has increased 11.6 years in boys and 9.2 years in girls.
• The probability of a premature cardiovascular disease death has declined substantially in both sexes.