Changes in premature deaths in Finland: successful long-term prevention of cardiovascular diseases

This article describes the long-term consequences of successful cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and its influence on premature mortality in Finland, with special reference to North Karelia. Active community-based CVD prevention began in 1972 in the province of North Karelia (population, 180,000). Since 1977, active preventive work has been carried out nationwide, taking advantage of the experience from North Karelia, which continued as a demonstration area for integrated prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Comprehensive community-based interventions as part of WHO interhealth and CINDI programmes in North Karelia and nationwide aimed at changing the target risk factors and health behaviours (serum cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, diet) at the population level. Age-adjusted mortality rates for CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, all cancers, lung cancer, accidents and violence, and all causes in the population aged 35-64 years from the pre-programme period (1969-71) to 1995 were the main measures of the outcome. Among men there was a great reduction in deaths from CHD, CVD, cancer, and all causes in the whole country. From 1969-71 to 1995 the age-standardized CHD mortality (per 100,000) decreased in North Karelia by 73% (from 672 to 185) and nationwide by 65% (from 465 to 165). The reduction in CVD mortality was of the same magnitude. Among men, CHD mortality decreased in the 1970s, as did lung cancer mortality in the 1980s and 1990s, significantly more in North Karelia than in all of Finland. Among women there was a great reduction in CVD (including CHD and stroke) mortality and all-causes mortality, but only a small reduction in cancer mortality. These results show that a major reduction in CVD mortality among the working-age population can take place in association with active reduction of major risk factors, with a favourable impact on cancer and all-causes mortality.