The main causes of death in 2004 in Romania were cardiovascular disease (62%), followed by malignant tumors (17%), digestive diseases (6%), accidents, injuries and poisoning (5%), and respiratory diseases (5%).[2] Deaths from external causes and from infectious and parasitic diseases are more common in Romania (4–5%) than in other EU member states.[3] It is estimated that a fifth of the total population of Romania suffers from a communicable or chronic disease.[4]