[Secondary prevention is of significance for prognosis in coronary disease]

Ischaemic heart disease and myocardial infarction mortality rates have been steadily decreasing in many countries, since the late '60s in the USA, for example, and since the early '80s in Sweden. The decline in myocardial infarction mortality has been attributed both to improved treatment and to a decreased incidence. Analyses in the USA have suggested secondary preventive measures to contribute more to the decline in ischaemic heart disease mortality than formerly. Life-style modifications, acute intervention, and various well-documented pharmacological treatment options beneficially affect prognosis and survival. However, treatment is still suboptimal in many cases.