[Geographic distribution of mortality from myocardial infarct in Baranya County]

The acute myocardial infarction is one of the leading causes of death in Hungary. The geographical epidemiology is able to quantify the possibilities of preventive activities and to ascertain the target groups for intervention. On the basis of the analysis of standardized data from Baranya county, the mortality rate is 3.16 times higher in the settlements of the lower quartile compared to the rate in the settlements or higher quartile. This relative risk is equivalent with 68% of etiologic fraction. The results demonstrate that there are a group of settlements where local factors predominate the etiologic background of the myocardial infarction. The maps determine the actual clusters calling for some intervention. It seems to be very urgent task for the Hungarian public health organizations to fit the routine cluster investigation into the general public health practice since there is a definite demand for doing it.