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* Trends in morbidity from myocardial infarction *
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Incidence and survival

Most studies indicate that the incidence of heart attack is falling in the UK – on average by about 2% per year in men and women under the age of 70. In addition, survival after a heart attack is improving: 28-day case fatality for heart attack is falling on average by about 1.5% per year in men and women under about the age of 70 in the UK. 

Prevalence

It is often stated that prevalence of a previous heart attack must be increasing because case fatality is falling, i.e. with declining case fatality there must be an increasing number of people who have had a heart attack in the past. However since incidence of heart attack is also falling, it remains possible that the effect of the decline in incidence outweighs the effect of the decline in case fatality and that prevalence is falling too.

Longitudinal data from the General Household Survey show that since 1988 there has been no marked change in the overall rate of self-reported morbidity from a previous heart attack. However, rates of self-reported longstanding cardiovascular disease have increased in older age groups since 1988: by around 35% in those aged 65-74 and 27% in those aged 75 and over.

 
Return to Trends in morbidity Return to "Trends in morbidity"
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* The following downloads are available on this topic *
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* Change in incidence of myocardial infarction, adults aged between 30 and 75, between 1966 and 1996, UK studies compared (Table)
Source: Volmink JA et al (1998) Heart; Tunstall-Pedoe H et al (1999) Lancet; Lampe FC et al (2000) Cardiovascular Disease Prevention V Conference, London.		  
Microsoft Excel Sheet - Change in incidence of myocardial infarction, adults aged between 30 and 75, between 1966 and 1996, UK studies compared (Table)
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* Rates per 1,000 population reporting longstanding diseases of the circulatory system by sex and age, 1988 to 2005, Great Britain (Table)
Source: The General Household Survey 2004 (2005).		  
Microsoft Excel Sheet - Rates per 1,000 population reporting longstanding diseases of the circulatory system by sex and age, 1988 to 2005, Great Britain (Table)
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* Change in 28-day case fatality for myocardial infarction, adults aged between 30 and 69, between 1966 and 1995, UK studies compared (Table)
Source: Volmink JA et al (1998) Heart; Tunstall-Pedoe H et al (1999) The Lancet.		  
Microsoft Excel Sheet - Change in 28-day case fatality for myocardial infarction, adults aged between 30 and 69, between 1966 and 1995, UK studies compared (Table)
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* Rates of reporting longstanding cardiovascular disease by age, 1988 to 2005, Great Britain (Figure)
Source: The General Household Survey 2003 (2005).		  
Microsoft Excel Sheet - Rates of reporting longstanding cardiovascular disease by age, 1988 to 2005, Great Britain (Figure)
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  Page last updated : 22nd July 2008
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