Death rates from CHD are generally higher in Central and Eastern Europe than in Northern, Southern and Western Europe. For example the death rate for men aged under 65 living in Ukraine is fourteen times higher than in France³ and for women it is twenty-five times higher. Western European countries generally have higher rates than Southern European Countries. For example the death rate for men aged under 65 living in Ireland is 1.6 times higher than in Italy and for women it is 1.8 times higher.

Death rates from stroke are higher in Central and Eastern Europe than in Northern, Southern and Western Europe. For example the death rate in men aged under 65 living in the Russian Federation is twenty times higher than in Switzerland and for women of the same age it is fifteen times higher.

Over the past 30 years death rates from CHD have been falling rapidly in most Northern and Western European countries but rising rapidly in some Central and Eastern European countries. For example death rates for men aged under 65 living in Finland and the United Kingdom fell by 37% and 42% respectively between 1994 and 2004, but rose by 57% for men of the same age living in Albania and by 19% for men living in the Ukraine. For women aged under 65 living in Finland and the United Kingdom death rates fell by 35% and 49% respectively, but rose by 46% for women living in Albania and by 19% for women living in Ukraine.

Death rates from stroke are falling rapidly in most European countries with some exceptions. For example death rates for men aged under 65 living in Germany and UK fell by 43% and 28% respectively between 1994 and 2004. For women aged 65 and under living in Germany and UK death rates fell by 37% and 28% respectively but rose by 15% for women living in the Albania.