Background: Although it has been shown that coronary heart disease mortality rates are decreasing in industrialized countries, little is known about time trends in coronary heart disease incidence. Further, although a number of randomized clinical trials have shown that percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and thrombolysis improve survival of acute myocardial infarction patients, it is not known if widespread use of these therapeutic procedures has contributed to a decrease in in-hospital case fatality on a population basis.
Methods: The change over time of coronary heart disease attack, incidence and mortality rates was assessed in men and women (35 to 64 years) using data collected between 1985 and 1989 by the Augsburg (Germany) and Toulouse (France) MONICA Centres. Acute coronary care and 28-day case fatality for hospitalized 24-h survivors were also assessed.
Results: Men and women from Augsburg had higher age-standarized attack, incidence and mortality rates than their Toulouse counterparts. In both centres, attack, incidence and mortality rates declined in men, but increased in women. Patients in Toulouse received more percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and thrombolysis and had lower 28-day case fatality than patients in Augsburg. The therapeutic procedures, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and thrombolysis increased in both centres; however, only in Toulouse was this increase associated with a decrease (non significant) in 28-day hospital case fatality.
Conclusion: The increase in morbidity and mortality rates of coronary heart disease in women stresses the need for preventive measures in this group. The absence of a favourable effect of acute coronary care on 28-day fatality for hospitalized 24-h survivors in the Augsburg centre will be further investigated.