The evolution of mortality from ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases in Portugal in the decade of the 80s.

Abstract

By late 70's, Portugal had one of the lowest IHD mortality rates amongst developed countries, with a declining trend. As for CVD, Portugal's figures were one of the highest, and showing a trend to increase. In what concerns to our country, by early 80's there were some data showing important regional variations concerning IHD and CVD mortality. So, the aims of this study were to analyse the evolution of IHD and CVD mortality rates in Portugal during the 80's and its possible relations with known risk factors evolution and distribution. The study also observed regional variations and regional mortality excesses, and international comparisons were established. During the studied decade, CVD and IHD were the leading causes of death in Portugal, with a ratio of 2.7/l respectively. There was a 24% decrease in CVD death rates, and 11% for IHD, equal for male and female. We found important differences amongst age groups: CVD predominates in extreme ages (the youngest and the oldest), whereas IHD predominates only in men 25-54 years old. We also found striking differences between provinces: in the northern coast CVD predominates, whereas in the South and Azores islands IHD leads. At the end of the decade, CVD mortality rates in Portugal where the highest in Europe; on the contrary, IHD mortality was the second lowest, just after France. This pattern is similar to the southern countries of Europe and Japan. Trends in the main cardiovascular risk factors in Portugal during the 80s are an incomplete explanation for this evolution pattern, although the authors value the suggested decrease in arterial hypertension prevalence as the main factor responsible for the observed reduction in IHD and CVD mortality in the country.