Increasing trends of acute myocardial infarction in Spain: the MONICA-Catalonia Study.

Aims: To assess coronary mortality and morbidity secular trends in Spain.

Methods And Results: Acute coronary events occurring in both sexes at ages 35-74 years between 1985 and 1997, were monitored in a geographical area of Catalonia, through a population-based registry. Information was collected from annual discharge lists of 78 hospitals and from death certificates, and validated following the methods and quality control of the World Health Organization MONItoring Trends and Determinants in CArdiovascular Disease Project (MONICA).