What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Coronary heart disease (n=9141). Primary outcome: Prevalence of myocardial infarction in 50-64-year-old men (p=<0.001).

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Icelandic men aged 34-79 from 1968 to 1986.

April 22, 2026European Heart Journal

Prevalence of coronary heart disease in Icelandic Men 1968-1986: The Reykjavik Study

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Over an 18-year period, the prevalence of myocardial infarction in 50-64-year-old Icelandic men significantly increased from 3% in 1968 to 4.9% in 1986 (P<0.001).

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Icelandic men aged 34-79 from 1968 to 1986.

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Key result

MI prevalence in middle-aged Icelandic men rose ~63% over nearly two decades.

P<0.001
n=9,141

Key Points

To determine the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Icelandic men aged 34-79 from 1968 to 1986.
Analyzed data from a general population sample of 9141 Icelandic men aged 34-79 years.
Estimated prevalence for various forms of CHD at multiple stages between 1968 and 1986.
Conducted age-standardized comparisons for specific age groups (50-64 years).
Prevalence of symptomatic and silent myocardial infarction rose from undetectable in younger men to around 12% in older men (75-79 years).
Overall prevalence of all forms of CHD increased from 4% in the youngest age group (30-34 years) to 23% in the age group 70-74 years.
Myocardial infarction prevalence increased from 3% (CI 1.9-4.8) in 1968 to 4.9% (CI 3.9-6.1) in 1986 (P < 0.001).

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=9,141)

Structured PICO

Population

9141 Icelandic men aged 34-79 years from a general population sample

Outcome

Prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and four different forms (symptomatic infarction, silent infarction, angina with ECG changes, angina without ECG changes)

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 4.9% vs 3%

p-value: p=<0.001

The prevalence of myocardial infarction in Icelandic men aged 50-64 years significantly increased between 1968 and 1986.

Discussion

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Implication

Should not alter screening or ECG interpretation in practice; leaves open prognostic value and contemporary relevance of silent MI.

Cite This Study

Sigurðsson et al. (1993) conducted an observational in Coronary heart disease (n=9,141). Over an 18-year period, the prevalence of myocardial infarction in 50-64-year-old Icelandic men significantly increased from 3% in 1968 to 4.9% in 1986 (P<0.001).

synapsesocial.com/papers/69e83e2b5066498e72cce0f1 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/14.5.584

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