Abstract
Norwegian counties show considerable variations in their rates of mortality from arteriosclerotic heart disease. These variations cannot be explained by present-day differences in standard of living. Such differences existed in the past as was shown by large variations in infant mortality. A significant positive correlation was found between the county age-adjusted mortality from arteriosclerotic heart disease in people aged 40-69 yr and county infant mortality relating to the early years in the same cohorts. Great poverty in childhood and adolescence followed by prosperity is apparently a risk factor for arteriosclerotic heart disease.