Differences in Mortality and Coronary Heart Disease between Lithuania and the Netherlands: Results from the WHO Kaunas-Rotterdam Intervention Study (KRIS)

A 9.5-year follow-up of the Kaunas-Rotterdam Intervention Study (KRIS) provided an opportunity to compare mortality patterns and rates in a population from Lithuania...with a population from the Netherlands. These populations consisted of 2452 and 3365 males respectively aged 45-60 years. In 1972-1974 these males were extensively screened for cardiovascular risk factors using uniform methods....The results provide evidence for geographical differences in mortality and morbidity between Lithuania and the Netherlands. Population-specific health behaviours were shown to be involved in differences in the risk of [coronary heart disease]. (EXCERPT)