Epidemiological analysis of ischemic heart disease mortality in Chile between 2000 and 2021

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Chile, with myocardial ischemia being the most frequent. It is the primary cause of death in men and the second leading cause in women. Methodology: This is a longitudinal, descriptive, observational study of an ecological type. Data were obtained from the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Statistics. The variables studied included years, sex, age groups, and mortality. Results: Between 2000 and 2021, Chile reported 175,973 deaths due to myocardial ischemia. The highest mortality rate was recorded in 2002, while the lowest was in 2020, with 51,7 and 41 deaths per-100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Despite an increase in the total number of accumulated deaths in the country, myocardial ischemia mortality decreased by 4.6 per-100,000 inhabitants during the analysis period. The age group with the highest mortality rate was individuals over 65 years of age in both sexes. Discussion: The decline in myocardial ischemia mortality could be associated with changes in the incidence of modifiable risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as improvements in in-hospital management, diagnostic protocols, and more effective treatments. Conclusion: Mortality rates by sex and age group align with international evidence. Myocardial ischemia mortality in Chile increases with age and more frequently affects men than women. It is crucial to enhance the availability of health data, as this would improve research capabilities and allow for broader comparisons.