title: Incidence of myocardial infarction in a general population: the Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Much of what is known about the occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) in populations is derived from mortality data. International heart disease registries and recent population-based studies provide only limited incidence data from selected areas of the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area (MESA), a defined geographic region where nearly all residents receive their health care from the Marshfield Clinic and affiliated hospitals, is a resource for estimating disease incidence in a general population. MI incidence rates and time trends from 1992 to 1998 were evaluated in MESA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1691 MESA residents had their first MI during the study period (age-adjusted rate, 292.4 per 100,000 per year). Rates in MESA were similar to some, and higher than other, incidence rates reported from US populations. About 20% of first MIs were detected only on death certificates. Overall incidence did not change much over time (-0.4% per year, P = 0.68), although rates declined 2.3% per year among women (P = 0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of MI incidence in a general population from Wisconsin. The fairly steady incidence trend and the large number of incident events detected through death certificates demonstrate the continued need for primary prevention.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Research Center, Marshfield Medical Research Foundation, 1000 N Oak Ave, Marshfield, WI 54449, USA. greenler@mmrf.mfldclin.edu
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Greenlee
authors.forename: Allison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Naleway
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vidaillet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012424:Rural Population; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology