Coronary heart disease: from a disease of middle-aged men in the late 1970s to a disease of elderly women in the 2000s

Aims To analyse secular changes in the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and to assess changes in the burden of CHD at population level. Methods and results Data were used from two large cross-sectional health examination surveys representing the entire Finnish adult population in 1980 and 2000. In the 1978–80 survey, the sample covered 5101 individuals aged ≥45, of whom 88% participated. The 2000–2001 survey comprised 5310 individuals in the same age range. Participation rate in the health examination was 87%. Prevalence of CHD decreased in men and women under the age of 65 and increased among those aged ≥75. Prevalence of large Q-waves indicating previous myocardial infarction decreased in all male age groups and in women aged 65–74. The total estimated number of persons with CHD increased by 18% (95% CI=6–30) during the past 20 years in Finland. In 1980, the most dominant CHD group was men aged 45–64, whereas in 2000, women aged ≥75 comprised the largest CHD group. Conclusion Although the prevalence of CHD has decreased among middle-aged persons, the number of CHD cases has increased during the past 20 years in Finland.