Coronary heart disease in residents of Rochester, Minnesota. II. Mortality, incidence, and survivorship, 1950-1975.

For the city of Rochester, Minnesota, the coronary heart disease mortality rate showed approximately the same percentage decline as that for the United States during the period 1968-1978. The incidence rates of coronary heart disease (angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and sudden unexpected death) for the period 1950-1975 are based on a total of 3,080 cases. The incidence showed a decrease approximately 10 years earlier than the decline in mortality and little change since that time. The age-adjusted case fatality rate for the incidence cases of myocardial infarction decreased from 18.7% in 1965-69 to 9.0% in 1970-75. The death rate during the 5 years following the diagnosis of angina also decreased by almost 50%, and the myocardial infarction patients dismissed from the hospital showed little change in subsequent survivorship.