Declining prevalence of angina pectoris in middle-aged men and women. A population-based study within the Northern Sweden MONICA Project

Objectives. To describe trends in the prevalence of angina pectoris in nort hern Sweden, between 1986 and 1994. Design. Cross-sectional population studies. Setting,Northern Sweden MONICA Project in Norrbotten and Vasterbotten count ies, Sweden. Subjects. Randomly selected men and women in the age group 35-64 years, tot al of 2459 men and women. Main outcome measures. Comparison of the prevalence of angina pectoris in 1 986 and 1994 as measured by the Rose questionnaire. Results. The proportion with a history of myocardial infarction decreased a mongst the participants from 4.6% to 2.0% (P < 0.001) between 1986 and 1994 . The prevalence of angina pectoris in men was essentially unchanged (3.4% in 1986 to 3.1% in 1994 (chi(2) = 0.02; P = 0.87), whereas it declined sign ificantly in women from 5.9% to 2.8% (chi(2) = 6.32; P = 0.01). In both men and women, the highest prevalence of Rose-positive persons was found in th e oldest age group. In 1986 the Rose-positive subgroup had a significantly higher proportion with high cholesterol (greater than or equal to 6.5 mmol L-1) as compared with the Rose-negative subgroup, 64% vs. 48% (chi(2) = 5.0 4; P = 0.02). In both surveys high blood pressure was more common in the Ro se-positive group (1986: chi(2) = 13.2; P < 0.001 and 1994: chi(2) = 9.8; P = 0.002). Conclusions. In women, but not in men, the prevalence of angina pectoris de creased significantly between 1986 and 1994. During the same time period th e proportion of people with high cholesterol decreased in northern Sweden. In both surveys, individuals with angina pectoris had more frequent hyperte nsion.