High cardiovascular mortality in postcommunist countries: participation of oxidative stress?

Age-standardized death rates from cardiovascular diseases (0-64 years) of male populations in postcommunistic Central and Eastern Europe are now several times higher than those in Western Europe. This phenomenon is only partly explainable by the higher prevalence of "classical" cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia). Socio-economic background of the cardiovascular epidemic in the USA and Western Europe after 1950, and in the Soviet bloc in 1960-1990 was substantially different. It is suggested that the influence of further risk factors should be considered: oxidative stress caused by prolonged disorders in life style (alcoholism, smoking), high degree of environmental pollution and nutritional disbalances (chronic deficiency of antioxidants due to low consumption of fruits, vegetables and vegetable oils); psychosocial factors-chronic stress, tension, anger, hostility, frustration and apathy leading to a lowered interest in one's own health. The situation in postcommunist countries is unique and its analysis could provide important new information about the etiology of cardiovascular diseases and their prevention.