THE INFLUENCE OF THE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRIES ON MORTALITY FROM CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the influence and relationship of the level of economic development of countries on mortality from cardiovascular pathology. Materials and Methods. A statistical analysis was conducted using correlation-regression analysis and time series analysis. The Our World in Data database on mortality from CVD, hypertension (HD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke (MI) and The World Bank data on the level of gross domestic product (GDP) in European countries calculated using the World Bank Atlas method were used. Results. A trend towards a decrease in mortality from CVD, IHD and MI was identified in countries with high and upper middle income levels for the period 2011–2021. In countries with an upper middle income level, a higher level of mortality from MI is observed compared to countries with a high income level and heterogeneity in its levels. In high-income countries, the dynamics of mortality from GH was heterogeneous. In most of them, an increase in mortality rates occurred. A similar trend was also observed in upper-middle-income countries. For high-income countries, a significant strong inverse relationship was established between GDP level and mortality from CVD (rxy = –0.923, p = 0.000 and rxy = –0.885, p = 0.000), from CHD (rxy = –0.808, p = 0.001 and rxy = –0.736, p = 0.004), from MI (rxy = –0.907, p = 0.000 and rxy = –0.962, p = 0.000) in 2021 and 2011, respectively. For countries with income levels above the middle, no significant effect of GDP level on mortality from CVD, CHD, and MI was established. A significant medium-strength inverse relationship was established between the level of GDP and mortality from GC for high-income countries rxy = –0.577 (p = 0.039) in 2021 and an insignificant rxy = –0.522 (p = 0.067) in 2011, and no significant effect of the level of GDP on mortality from GC was established. Conclusion. Over the period 2011–2021, mortality from CVD in general, as well as from their individual components CHD and MI, decreased, and mortality from GC increased. The level of economic development of countries had a significant impact on this indicator only in high-income countries, which indirectly indicates the effectiveness of investments in health-saving policies and strategies.