This meta-analysis was performed to determine the time-trends in the prevalence of coronary heart disease in India and age-and gender-specific changes. Inter-study differences, urban-rural differences and age-and gender-specific differences were examined using the Chi-square test and Mantel-Haenzel Chi-square statistics for linear association. The prevalence of coronary heart disease increased from 1.05% in 1960 to 9.67% and 7.90% in 1995 in urban populations (X2 = 277.5, p < 0.0001; Mantel-Haenzel X2 = 5.63, p = 0.018). In rural areas, the prevalence increased from 2.03% in 1974 to 3.7% in 1995 (X2 = 90.0, p < 0.0001; Mantel-Haenzel X2 = 2.94, p = 0.086). In urban areas there was a significant increase in the prevalence of coronary heart disease in men in the age groups 20-29 and 30-39 years (p = 0.001) and in women in the age groups 20-29, 30-39 and 40-49 years (p = 0.002). In rural areas the increase in men was in the age groups 20-29 and 30-39 years (p = 0.001).