The prevalence of smoking has changed markedly and rapidly since the 1970s. This paper examines the concomitant changes in cardiovascular mortality since 1973 on the basis of data extracted from the National Causes of Deaths Register (Statistics Finland). For comparison, international mortality data from the World Health Organization's database was used.

Among the Finnish males aged 35-64 years, CHD mortality decreased between 1973 and 2001 by 73 % (from 462/100 000 to 123/100 000). Among females in the same age group the reduction was 76 % (from 82/100 000 to 20/100 000). Although the largest reduction in relative mortality took place in the age groups 35-54 and 55-64 years, the absolute decrease was largest in the oldest age group, persons aged 65-74 years. Among males aged 35-74 years, stroke mortality decreased from 167/100 000 in 1973 to 62/100 000 in 2001 (63 %), and among females from 113/100 000 to 32/100 000 (72 %).

The study shows that CVD mortality has decreased markedly in Finland over the last decades. In eastern Finland, where CHD mortality in the early 1970s may have been the highest in the world, CHD mortality decreased to less than one third by the end of 2001.