[Is the present trend in cardiovascular disease mortality in the Slovak Republic a reason for optimism?]

The authors analyzed the cardiovascular mortality trend in 1985 - 1990 and 1991 -1994. They discuss factors which may have influenced this trend which declined slightly since 1991. They emphasize the importance of cardiovascular diseases in public health and ask epidemiologists, health professionals and the public to pay more attention to the elimination of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. The authors' suggestions are in context with some countries which made already considerable advances as regards elimination of cardiovascular risk factors.