[Mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases in Spain: where are we going?]

Spain is one of the european countries with a lowest mortality rate by cardiovascular diseases (although they are the leading cause of mortality) and, specifically, by ischemic heart disease. The trends in the last 16 years for which data are available point to a reduction of the former in 1.07% in males and 1.53% in females for the complete study period (1968-1984) and a trend towards the stabilization of the latter (a reduction of 0.45% in males and 1.88% in females from 1978 to 1984). The apparently unfavorable evolution of the classical risk factors of coronary artery disease, however, makes that its future outcome is uncertain. Therefore, their control is a basic aim of the policy for the control of this disease.