[Not only the orienteers. A study of mortality from myocarditis among the younger Swedish population]

All cases of death in the 11-45-year-old age group, occurring during the period 1981-1986, where myocarditis was given as the underlying or contributory cause, were analysed. Estimated per 100,000 person years, mortality was 0.5 for men and 0.2 for women. There was a tendency toward geographic clustering and, independently, a clustering in time. Some variation according to socio-economic class was also present. We conclude that the current focus of Swedish research on myocarditis among orienteers is too narrow, as more than 90 percent of cases occur outside this group.