Significant annual decreases in CHD mortality from 1987 to 1994 were observed despite stable or increasing MI hospitalizations, suggesting improvements in treatment and secondary prevention.
From 1987 to 1994, we observed a stable or slightly increasing incidence of hospitalization for myocardial infarction. Nevertheless, there were significant annual decreases in mortality from CHD. The decline in mortality in the four communities we studied may be due largely to improvements in the treatment and secondary prevention of myocardial infarction.
Rosamond et al. (1998) studied this question.