title: The absolute risk of recurrent myocardial infarction is similar amongst both sexes: MONICA Iceland Study 1981-1999.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To do a gender comparison of absolute risk of recurrent myocardial infarction (MI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Registration of all first and second MI amongst Icelandic males and females 1981-1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  The whole of Icelandic population, 40-74 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean recurrence rate (second attack) for men was 45.7/1000 MI survivors/year and for women 39.0/1000 per year. The male/female (M/F) ratio was 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.37, P = 0.05 and did not change significantly with age. The M/F ratio for first MI in comparison was two to seven, lowest in the oldest group. The recurrence rate decreased significantly and similarly in both sexes during the observation period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absolute risk of MI is closely similar amongst both sexes and has decreased similarly suggesting that the same kind of secondary intervention is effective amongst both sexes in a general population.
authors.affiliation: Icelandic Heart Association, and Department of Internal Medicine, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. gunnars@lanspital.is
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sigurdsson
authors.forename: Nikulas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sigfusson
authors.forename: Inga Ingibjörg
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Gudmundsdottir
authors.forename: Uggi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Agnarsson
authors.forename: Helgi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sigvaldason
authors.forename: Vilmundur
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gudnason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors