DECLINE IN MORTALITY FROM HEART-DISEASE IN DENMARK - SOME METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

Mortality rates in Denmark from ischemic heart diseases (IHD), other h eart diseases and unknown causes are presented for the period 1968-92. In all age groups, mortality from IHD is higher at the beginning of t he period than at the end. For other heart disease, the plot of the mo rtality rate is U-shaped for the age groups 65-84 and greater than or equal to 85, but first decreases and is then constant for the age grou p 30-64. There are an increasing number of deaths from symptomatic hea rt disease. For the group of unknown causes, the rates are increasing for all sex and age groups. The relationship between deaths from IHD a nd deaths from unknown causes varies with period, age, sex and region. For women in Copenhagen in the age group 30-64, the mortality rate fr om unknown cause is higher than the rate for IHD at the end of period. Vital statistics must therefore be used cautiously in analysing trend s for IHD, and even the validity of temporal changes within a country must be questioned.