Mortality trend of ischemic heart disease (2008-2022): A retrospective analysis of epidemiological data

Background: Age-sex specific trend analyses of ischemic heart disease (IHD)-related mortality and prevalent risk factors can improve our understanding and approach to the disease. Methods: We performed a 15-year retrospective epidemiological analysis of acute and chronic IHD-related mortality and prevalent cardiovascular risk factors using administrative data from Veneto, a socioeconomically homogeneous Italian region. Standard mortality statistics using the underlying cause of death (UCOD) and deaths with any mention of IHD in death certificates (MCOD) from ICD-10 codes I20-I25 was performed between 2008 and 2022. Results: A total of 134,327 death certificates reported IHD-related deaths, representing 18.6% of all deaths. Proportional mortality decreased from 14.6% in 2008 to 7.8% in 2022 for deaths with IHD as the UCOD and from 23.5% to 14.6% for deaths with IHD among the MCOD. A more pronounced decline of proportionate and casespecific mortality rate was seen in women. The decline in mortality over the whole study period was larger for acute (vs. chronic) IHD. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a marked increase in mortality in 2020 (+12.2%) with a subsequent further decline. IHD-related deaths displayed a typical seasonal pattern with more deaths during winter. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was higher in IHD (vs. no IHD) deaths: this association appeared more pronounced in younger adults. Conclusions: We provided an analysis of epidemiological trends in IHD-related mortality and prevalence of risk factors. Our findings indicate a change in the pattern of cardiovascular deaths and may suggest a switch in death from acute to chronic conditions.