Who wants to eliminate heart disease?

Twenty-seven physicians and nine pharmacists at one University teaching hospital identified their preferred way of dying after attaining average life expectancy. Respondents' ranking of modes of dying showed high agreement (for physicians, W = 0.65, p < 10(-16)). Disease category, rapidity of death, and their interaction (ANOVA, all p < 0.0001) influenced choice. "Rapidly fatal cardiac death" was overwhelmingly preferred. Cancer and slowly fatal central nervous system disorders were rated last. Eliminating cardiovascular disease would necessarily increase the likelihood of other modes of death. If these respondents represent "informed consumers", then reducing cardiac death at normal life expectancy may be contrary to Western society's preferences.