Possible influence of changes in risk factors on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in Israel: need for an information system.

Mortality from ischemic heart disease (IHD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) has continued to fall in Israel during the period 1978-82. Proportionally, the fall has been 27.5% in males and 34.4% in females for IHD and 37.0 and 40.4% for CVD. There are few data available in Israel that can explain this decline, and it is doubtful whether it is due to any major attempt to change risk factor status. A top priority at this stage would seem to be the development of an information system (including data collection and processing) on a national level that will provide the opportunity for future assessment of the significance of change in such mortality. The need for future major intervention programs should be determined on the basis of such morbidity and mortality data.