Twenty-five year incidence and prediction of coronary heart disease in two Italian rural population samples. The Italian Research Group of the Seven Countries Study.

1712 men aged 40-59 at entry examination in 1960 and representing 98.8% of defined geographical samples in Northern and Central rural Italy, have been followed up for 25 years with continuous monitoring of mortality and causes of death and repeated examinations for the measurement of coronary heart diseases (CHD) incidence. In 25 years 810 men died from all causes and 198 from CHD. Incidence in CHD-free men at entry, has been 123 per 1000 for CHD death, 151 per 1000 for hard criteria CHD (deaths plus definite myocardial infarction alive) and 305 per 1000 for any criteria CHD (deaths plus definite myocardial infarction, plus possible myocardial infarction, plus angina pectoris, plus other manifestations.