Declining cardiovascular mortality masks unpalatable inequalities.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease mortality is falling across Europe, and is falling in most social groups. The impact of these declines on inequalities in cardiovascular mortality is, however, unclear. We project current mortality declines into the future and make the case that, under different scenarios, the inequalities that will be seen in the future are in general worse than at present and, as such, unacceptable. We argue that population level policy interventions on risk factors stand the best chance of reducing inequalities.