Epidemiologic features of recent trends in coronary heart disease in the Soviet Union.

Beginning in the mid 1960s the Soviet Union experienced a sharp increase in the mortality rate for men over the age of 20 and for women 50 to 64 years. The principal cause of this increase appears to be the rising rates of coronary heart disease. The rate of increase in coronary heart disease for men in the 30 to 59 year age group over the years 1966 to 1972 was almost 7% per year. Rural death rates have increased at a faster rate than those in cities, although the absolute level remains somewhat lower. Mortality from other major cardiovascular diseases has also increased. It would appear that the coronary heart disease epidemic has been particularly severe in the USSR and there is no evidence that it has abated.