[Changes of hierarchy among causes of death in some European Union countries]

Mortality from malignant neoplasms and diseases of circulatory system in the countries of European Union is on decline, though this trend is much slower in the case of neoplasms. In some EU countries the mortality from neoplasms is already higher than mortality from diseases of circulatory system, which until recently occupied the first position in the cause of death hierarchy. This trend is more significant among males and in France, the Netherlands and Spain where malignant neoplasms became the first cause of death. The forecast for next years predicts the continuation and deepening of this tendency.