[Trend of changes in mortality of cardiovascular diseases in some areas of Beijing during 1984 to 1998].

OBJECTIVE

To understand the main causes of deaths affecting population health and the trend of mortality of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Beijing area during 1984 to 1998.

METHODS

Monitoring data for cardiovascular diseases in some areas of Beijing during 1984 to 1998 were collected from MONICA project and used to analyze the distribution of disease, mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases and its age-adjusted mortality. Yearly average change in cardiovascular disease-specific mortality was calculated with regression analysis.

RESULTS

Cardiovascular disease-specific mortality ranked the first place of the causes of deaths in Beijing population during 1984 to 1998, accounting for 46.0% of the total deaths. Cancer ranked the second, accounting for 26.5% of the total. Overall mortality, cardiovascular-specific mortality and cerebro-specific mortality all lowered significantly during the past 15 years, with yearly average reductions of 2.9%, 2.7% and 3.5%, respectively. Mortality of coronary heart disease significantly rose.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiovascular disease was the top cause of death in Beijing population during 1984 to 1998. Mortality of coronary heart disease significantly rose in the past 15 years. It is a pressing matter of the moment to prevent cardiovascular diseases in the population.