Trends in death and consultation rates of ischemic heart disease in Japan and the risk factors in a rural community

Abstract

In Japan, the age-adjusted death rate from ischemic heart disease has decreased for both male and female since 1970, although the rate appears to be slightly affected by mortality from senility without mention of psychosis, "cardiac insufficiency", and sudden death in elderly persons. On the other hand, consultation rate has shown an increase, suggesting an increase in the number of recovered patients and a lengthening in the duration of ischemic heart disease from onset to termination by CCU treatment. A 7.5-year prospective study of ischemic heart disease (myocardial infarction + angina pectoris on effort + sudden death) among residents 40 years and older was conducted at a rural community, Akadani-Ijimino district in Niigata Prefecture. Statistically significant risk factors appeared to be age, hypertension, ECG abnormalities and fuduscopic changes. Even in 1977-1984 when Japanese dietary habits were westernized, neither hyperlipidemia nor obesity was related to the development of ischemic heart disease in this agricultural district. Statistically significant risk ratios were not observed for any nutrient or food, although the ratio for animal fat, calcium, salted vegetables and caloric percent of animal protein was more than one respectively.