[Health status during the occupation years--mortality]

The crude total death rate of the Norwegian population gradually decreased from the early 1930s until 1940. During the German occupation the total death rate increased moderately, but markedly, particularly among males and age groups below 45 years. Children too had a high death rate, due to an extremely high occurrence of infectious diseases. Infant mortality declined, however, particularly in the cities, probably due to increased resources in mother and child health care. In all age groups mortality was generally dominated by injuries and violent causes of death, in addition to infectious diseases. The concept that cardiovascular diseases became less frequent due to favourable changes in diet and life style is doubtful. The statistical decline in mortality from these diseases started before the quality or quantity of the diet was reduced to any extent, and the rise began before diet and nourishment improved. Further, the routines for reporting death, and the nomenclature, were changed already in 1941, making comparisons between the prewar and the war period difficult. The figures may thus be due to artefacts. In addition, the high frequency of violent and unknown causes of death may mask the possible effects of chronic and lethal diseases.