Epidemiology of ischaemic heart disease

Abstract

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is the most common cause of death globally. However, the worldwide burden from IHD comes not only from the deaths attributable to it, but also from the disability it causes in those who survive with it. Both mortality and morbidity from IHD is greater in men than women, with large inequalities also existing between countries and global regions. This is particularly noticeable when comparing countries of different income classifications, with more than three-quarters of all IHD deaths occurring in developing countries and the lowest age-standardized mortality rates for IHD found in high-income countries.