Rates of admissions (or more technically discharges) for CVD vary considerably across Europe. For example, the hospital admission rate is over four times higher in Belarus than in Portugal. In general, higher admission rates are found in Eastern European and Scandanavian countries. Similar geographical trends are seen for CHD and, to a lesser extent, stroke.

Temporal trends in admission rates reflect patterns in mortality and morbidity discussed in previous chapters. Since 1995 (where comparable data across Europe are more readily available) the rates in some Eastern European and former Soviet countries have increased rapidly, whereas the rates in Western European countries have been relatively stable. In particular, the rates in Scandanavia have not increased substantially since 1995, suggesting that rates in Eastern European countries may soon overtake these rates.

Similar temporal trends are apparent for CHD and stroke.