The aim: To assess the linkages of trends between the mean values of main risk factors of ischemic heart disease, the overall high risk of coronary within 10 years and morbidity from acute myocardial infarction in Kaunas population aged 35-64 years during the period from 1983 to 2002.
Material and methods: Data sources were four cross-sectional surveys (1983-1984, 1986-1987, 1992-1993, 2001-2002) and population-based ischemic heart disease register (1983-2001) of Kaunas population aged 35-64 years. Data collection was conducted according to the method using in the Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) project. The overall high risk developing a fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction or sudden death within 10 years was calculated by PROCAM Risk Score.
Results: During 1983-2002 the mean value of systolic blood pressure decreased among men and women (respectively, from 138.8 to 136.4 mmHg, p<0.05 and from 139.7 to 133.2 mmHg, p<0.05). Body mass index decreased among men (from 27.5 to 27.4 kg/m2, p<0.05), and diastolic blood pressure decreased among women (from 86.5 to 82.7 mmHg, p<0.05). In 1983-2002 the overall high 10-year risk also decreased in men and women (respectively, from 20.4 % to 16.3% and from 7.9% to 5.4%). During 1992-2001 the trend of morbidity from acute myocardial infarction was declining among men (by - 4.6 %/year, p<0.01) and among women (by--1.3 %/year, p>0.05).
Conclusion: Trends of the overall high 10-year coronary risk and morbidity from acute myocardial infarction were analogous in both genders.