Regional variation in incidence and case fatality of myocardial infarction among young women in England, Scotland and Wales.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the regional variation in incidence and case fatality of myocardial infarction among young women.


METHODS
Cross sectional survey, using population based incidence data.


METHODS
England, Scotland and Wales.


METHODS
Subjects were women aged 16-44 with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction between 1 October 1993 and 15 October 1995.


METHODS
Incidence of myocardial infarction per 100,000 women years, with case fatality as a percentage of total cases.


RESULTS
Incidence of myocardial infarction rose steeply from age 33 upwards, (maximum = 20.2 cases per 100,000 women years at age 44). The adjusted incidence rate for myocardial infarction was 3.7 (95% CI 3.2, 4.2) times greater in Scotland than in southern England. In contrast, case fatality was significantly lower in Scotland: 18.5% (95% CI 13.1%, 25.0%), compared with 31.0% (95% CI 25.9%, 36.0%) in southern England.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of myocardial infarction varied widely within the United Kingdom. Case fatality variation may reflect differences in ambulance response, or in diagnostic acumen, within the regions.
Dunn
N R
NR
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Arscott
A
A
Thorogood
M
M
Faragher
B
B
de Caestecker
L
L
MacDonald
T M
TM
McCollum
C
C
Thomas
S
S
Mann
R D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology