International trends in mortality and morbidity from ischaemic heart disease

International mortality trends for ischaemic heart disease are summarized for the period 1972 to 1984, comparing the most recent with earlier changes in total mortality. A review of data on changes in incidence, short-term and long-term prognosis indicate that major declines in coronary heart disease mortality must have been due primarily to prevention, but improvements in short-term prognosis and, according to some studies, long-term prognosis have most likely contributed to the downward trends. Based on information available to date, changes in life styles, health-promoting or detrimental as the case may be, correlate with changes in risk factors and observed trends in coronary heart disease mortality.