ISSN: 1885-5857 Impact factor 2023 7.2
Vol. 74. Num. 10.
Pages 838-845 (October 2021)

Original article
Trends in premature mortality due to ischemic heart disease in Spain from 1998 to 2018

Tendencias de mortalidad prematura por cardiopatía isquémica en España durante el periodo 1998-2018

M. Isabel HervellaabConcepción Carratalá-MunueraacDomingo Orozco-BeltránacAdriana López-PinedaacVicente Bertomeu-GonzálezadeVicente F. Gil-GuillénacReyes PascualaJosé A. Quesadaac
Rev Esp Cardiol. 2021;74:823-610.1016/j.rec.2021.05.011
Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, Usama Bilal

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Abstract
Introduction and objectives

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability. The aim of this study was to analyze trends in premature mortality due to IHD in patients younger than 75 years in Spain from 1998 to 2018 by region.

Methods

Observational study of temporal trends in premature mortality due to IHD in Spain by region and sex from 1998 to 2018. The study population included resident citizens aged between 0 and 74 years. The data sources were the continuous population register and the mortality registry of the National Institute of Statistics. We calculated age-adjusted mortality rates and their average annual percent change estimated by Poisson models.

Results

During the study period, mortality rates due to IHD decreased, both in the country as a whole and by provinces (53% in men and 61% in women), with an average annual percent change of –3.92% and –5.07%, respectively. In the first year (1998), mortality was unequally distributed among provinces, with higher mortality in the south of Spain.

Conclusions

Premature mortality due to IHD significantly decreased in Spain during the study period in both sexes to roughly half of initial cases. This decrease was statistically significant in almost all regions. Interprovincial differences in mortality and their variation also decreased in recent years.

Keywords

Ischemic heart disease
Avoidable mortality
Mortality
Epidemiology
Population
Primary care
INTRODUCTION

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death1 and hospitalization2 in Spain and in the European Union.3 Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is itself the most common cause of cardiovascular mortality4 and the primary cause of death worldwide.5 In Spain, death due to IHD reached 7.8% of all deaths in 2016, with significant differences by sex. The percentage is higher in men, in whom it has been the leading cause of death since 1987; meanwhile, it is the second most common cause of death in women after stroke.4,6

In developed countries, death due to IHD has fallen since 1975, although the reduction has slowed since 1990.7,8 The decline has been attributed both to improved treatment of acute coronary syndrome and to preventive measures.9 The incidence of IHD significantly differs by age and sex,10 similar to IHD mortality,11 which rapidly increases with age, and the rates in women are approximately the same as those of men who are 10 years younger.

Prevalence also increases with age and differs by sex. Data from the United States show a predominance of men in terms of both overall IHD and myocardial infarction in particular in all age groups.12 In Spain, there are no data on the true prevalence of IHD but population surveys13 include myocardial infarction and permit indirect estimates, which indicate lower rates vs America at all ages and a reduction from 2006 to 2012.9

In addition to premature mortality (PM) due to IHD, people who survive the acute phase become chronic patients, with slow progression and quality of life limitations that affect their caregivers. The economic effects are considerable for families and society and undermine the sustainability of the health care system. Accordingly, cardiovascular disease is estimated to cause more than 50% of health expenditure costs and almost 25% of productivity losses in Europe.14 Thus, our actions must include deep and ongoing studies.

Previous studies of death due to IHD in Spain2,15–17 differ in the periods covered and other parameters. In contrast to the present study, none included data until 2018 differentiated by sex and region. PM due to IHD has also not been studied by autonomous community (AC), unlike that due to heart failure.18 Accordingly, the objective of this study was to analyze the trends in PM due to IHD in Spain from 1998 to 2018 by province.

METHODS

This observational study examined trends in PM due to IHD in Spain by province from 1998 to 2018. PM was defined as any death due to IHD in individuals younger than 75 years old (key indicators for the Spanish National Health System19). PM due to IHD was analyzed in residents of Spain aged between 0 and 74 years and by province. A national analysis was also performed of groups aged 0 to 34, 35 to 64, and 65 to 74 years. The basic cause of death was defined by ICD-9 codes 410 to 414 (1998) and ICD-10 codes I20 to I25 (1999-2018) of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Ninth and Tenth revisions. We excluded patients with no record of their province of residence.

The population data source used was the continuous population register of the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE).20 We additionally used the cause of death recorded in the mortality registry, also available at the electronic portal of this institute.

The study variables were populations by age, sex, year, and province of residence, as well as province of residence, age in years, sex, and year of death.

Statistical analysis

Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs)/100 000 population were calculated via the direct method, as well as their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs), by age and sex and both nationally and for each province. For standardization, we used the European standard population for 2013 published by Eurostat21; the population each year was divided into 5-year age groups by province and sex, with the corresponding 95%CI, and truncated rates were calculated in each age group. Although the objective of this study was centered on PM, the national AAMR was also calculated in individuals older than 74 years by age and sex to fully analyze the mortality trends. To assess the change in mortality over the study period, Poisson regression models were adjusted to the logarithm of the number of deaths, using the logarithm of the population as offset and adjusting by groups aged <50, 50 to 64, and 65 to 74 years. The average annual percent change (AAPC) in mortality was estimated using the expression (exp(β) – 1)·100%, where β corresponds to the variable year of death. The 95%CI was calculated for the AAPC and the values were estimated by province and sex. All analyses were performed with the statistical program R 4.0.2.22

RESULTS

In total, 232 617 premature deaths due to IHD were analyzed during the study period; 181 424 (78.0%) occurred in men and 51 193 (22.0%) in women.

In 1998, PM due to IHD occurred in 14 876 people in Spain, 11 234 men (75.5%) and 3642 women (24.5%). In 2018, PM due to IHD occurred in 8780, 7036 men (80.1%) and 1744 women (19.8%). PM due to IHD in individuals younger than 75 years represented 30.9% of total mortality due to IHD. Table 1 of the supplementary data and table 2 of the supplementary data show the number of deaths and the AAMRs and 95%CIs of death due to IHD in Spain by province during the entire study period and in both sexes.

Table 1 and table 2 show the national AAMR of all years for men and women, respectively, with those younger than 74 years differentiated by groups aged 0 to 34, 45 to 64, and 65 to 74 years, in addition to those aged> 74 years. There was a fall in the mortality rates of all age groups, although it was more pronounced in those older than 35 years, in both men and women. Although the magnitude of the mortality due to IHD was much higher in people older than 74 years, a similar decreasing pattern was detected in both age groups during the study period.

Table 1.

Death due to ischemic heart disease in men in Spain by age group from 1998 to 2018

Year  0-74 y0-34 y35-64 y65-74 y> 74 y
  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI 
1998  11 234  75.5  (74.1-76.9)  114  1.1  (0.9-1.3)  4729  70.9  (68.9-72.9)  6391  376.5  (367.2-385.7)  11 118  1192.6  (1170.0-1215.2) 
1999  11 336  74.6  (73.2-75.9)  104  1.0  (0.8-1.2)  4627  68.8  (66.8-70.8)  6605  377.1  (368.0-386.2)  11 340  1161.8  (1140.0-1183.7) 
2000  10 978  71.8  (70.4-73.1)  108  1.0  (0.8-1.2)  4553  67.6  (65.6-69.6)  6317  357.5  (348.6-366.3)  11 095  1097.4  (1076.5-1118.2) 
2001  10 340  66.5  (65.2-67.8)  95  0.9  (0.7-1.0)  4293  62.7  (60.8-64.6)  5952  331.0  (322.6-339.5)  11 384  1076.3  (1056.1-1096.5) 
2002  10 121  64.2  (62.9-65.4)  105  0.9  (0.8-1.1)  4243  61.0  (59.2-62.9)  5773  317.1  (308.9-325.3)  11 698  1073.7  (1053.8-1093.7) 
2003  10 159  63.3  (62.1-64.6)  112  1.0  (0.8-1.1)  4305  60.4  (58.6-62.3)  5742  312.2  (304.1-320.3)  12 344  1104.2  (1084.2-1124.3) 
2004  9355  57.7  (56.5-58.8)  99  0.8  (0.7-1.0)  4146  56.0  (54.2-57.7)  5110  280.7  (273.0-288.4)  12 096  1048.0  (1028.7-1067.3) 
2005  9443  57.7  (56.6-58.9)  88  0.7  (0.6-0.9)  4147  53.7  (52.1-55.4)  5208  290.3  (282.4-298.2)  12 342  1031.4  (1012.6-1050.2) 
2006  8976  53.9  (52.8-55.0)  71  0.6  (0.4-0.7)  4224  53.6  (51.9-55.2)  4681  258.3  (250.9-265.7)  11 868  952.8  (935.1-970.5) 
2007  8758  52.2  (51.1-53.3)  80  0.7  (0.5-0.8)  4134  51.2  (49.6-52.7)  4544  252.4  (245.1-259.8)  12 164  949.2  (931.8-966.6) 
2008  8173  48.0  (47.0-49.1)  79  0.6  (0.5-0.8)  4035  48.3  (46.8-49.8)  4059  227.2  (220.2-234.2)  11 837  886.7  (870.3-903.1) 
2009  7891  45.9  (44.9-47.0)  100  0.8  (0.7-1.0)  3910  45.9  (44.4-47.3)  3881  218.0  (211.2-224.9)  12 166  871.8  (855.9-887.6) 
2010  7578  43.8  (42.8-44.8)  83  0.7  (0.6-0.9)  3784  43.5  (42.1-44.9)  3711  209.4  (202.7-216.2)  12 346  853.5  (838.2-868.8) 
2011  7183  40.9  (40.0-41.9)  76  0.6  (0.5-0.8)  3559  40.4  (39.1-41.8)  3548  196.3  (189.8-202.8)  12 416  825.2  (810.5-839.9) 
2012  7129  40.2  (39.3-41.2)  57  0.5  (0.4-0.6)  3606  40.2  (38.9-41.6)  3466  191.4  (185.0-197.8)  12 504  803.3  (789.0-817.5) 
2013  7179  39.8  (38.9-40.7)  57  0.5  (0.4-0.7)  3700  40.8  (39.5-42.1)  3422  185.7  (179.4-191.9)  11 892  743.2  (729.7-756.8) 
2014  7176  39.2  (38.3-40.1)  47  0.5  (0.3-0.6)  3665  40.2  (38.9-41.5)  3464  182.7  (176.6-188.9)  11 516  711.5  (698.4-724.6) 
2015  7163  38.0  (37.2-38.9)  43  0.5  (0.3-0.6)  3597  39.2  (37.9-40.4)  3523  177.0  (171.2-182.9)  12 029  730.5  (717.3-743.7) 
2016  7132  37.4  (36.6-38.3)  39  0.4  (0.3-0.6)  3622  38.6  (37.4-39.9)  3471  173.9  (168.1-179.7)  11 493  678.7  (666.2-691.2) 
2017  7084  36.4  (35.6-37.3)  33  0.4  (0.2-0.5)  3544  37.1  (35.9-38.3)  3507  171.3  (165.6-177.0)  11 641  672.6  (660.3-684.9) 
2018  7036  35.3  (34.5-36.2)  43  0.5  (0.3-0.6)  3607  37.2  (36.0-38.4)  3386  160.9  (155.4-166.3)  10 983  621.8  (610.1-633.5) 

95%CI, 95% confidence interval; AAMRs, age-adjusted mortality rates/100 000 population (direct method, European standard population for 2013).

Table 2.

Death due to ischemic heart disease in women in Spain by age group from 1998 to 2018

Year  0-74 y0-34 y35-64 y65-74 y> 74 y
  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI 
1998  3642  21.2  (20.5-21.8)  28  0.3  (0.2-0.4)  853  12.2  (11.4-13.0)  2761  135.3  (130.2-140.3)  13 448  789.7  (776.4-803.1) 
1999  3609  20.5  (19.8-21.2)  32  0.3  (0.2-0.4)  878  12.4  (11.6-13.3)  2699  128.5  (123.7-133.4)  13 711  769.7  (756.8-782.6) 
2000  3416  19.3  (18.7-20.0)  22  0.2  (0.1-0.3)  783  11.2  (10.4-12.0)  2611  123.5  (118.8-128.2)  13 199  714.2  (702.1-726.4) 
2001  3274  18.3  (17.6-18.9)  25  0.2  (0.1-0.3)  785  11.1  (10.3-11.8)  2464  114.7  (110.2-119.2)  13 189  683.2  (671.5-694.9) 
2002  3045  16.9  (16.3-17.5)  18  0.2  (0.1-0.2)  789  11.1  (10.3-11.8)  2238  103.1  (98.8-107.4)  13 929  707.0  (695.3-718.8) 
2003  3074  16.9  (16.3-17.5)  10  0.1  (0.0-0.2)  814  11.2  (10.5-12.0)  2250  102.7  (98.4-106.9)  14 209  702.7  (691.2-714.3) 
2004  2883  15.8  (15.2-16.3)  13  0.1  (0.1-0.2)  765  10.2  (9.5-10.9)  2105  96.8  (92.6-100.9)  13 931  670.9  (659.8-682.1) 
2005  2746  14.9  (14.4-15.5)  22  0.2  (0.1-0.3)  787  10.0  (9.3-10.7)  1937  90.1  (86.1-94.1)  14 252  664.2  (653.3-675.1) 
2006  2485  13.4  (12.9-13.9)  13  0.1  (0.1-0.2)  745  9.2  (8.5-9.8)  1727  80.3  (76.5-84.1)  13 309  599.2  (589.0-609.4) 
2007  2461  13.3  (12.7-13.8)  28  0.3  (0.2-0.4)  741  8.9  (8.3-9.6)  1692  79.5  (75.7-83.3)  13 409  586.9  (576.9-596.8) 
2008  2280  12.2  (11.7-12.8)  18  0.2  (0.1-0.2)  694  8.1  (7.5-8.7)  1568  74.3  (70.6-78.0)  13 164  553.7  (544.3-563.2) 
2009  2014  10.8  (10.3-11.3)  13  0.1  (0.1-0.2)  665  7.6  (7.0-8.1)  1336  64.0  (60.6-67.5)  13 205  533.4  (524.2-542.5) 
2010  1984  10.7  (10.2-11.2)  25  0.2  (0.1-0.3)  671  7.5  (7.0-8.1)  1288  62.8  (59.4-66.2)  12 967  505.2  (496.5-513.9) 
2011  1880  10.0  (9.6-10.5)  16  0.1  (0.1-0.2)  651  7.2  (6.7-7.8)  1213  58.3  (55.0-61.6)  12 933  485.2  (476.8-493.6) 
2012  1861  9.9  (9.4-10.3)  0.1  (0.0-0.2)  718  7.8  (7.2-8.4)  1134  55.0  (51.8-58.2)  12 828  464.3  (456.3-472.4) 
2013  1768  9.3  (8.8-9.7)  13  0.1  (0.1-0.2)  688  7.4  (6.8-7.9)  1067  51.3  (48.2-54.4)  12 156  429.9  (422.2-437.6) 
2014  1714  8.8  (8.4-9.2)  0.1  (0.0-0.2)  662  7.1  (6.5-7.6)  1043  48.5  (45.6-51.5)  11 639  401.8  (394.4-409.1) 
2015  1801  8.9  (8.5-9.4)  0.1  (0.0-0.1)  668  7.1  (6.5-7.6)  1125  49.9  (47.0-52.8)  12 306  415.6  (408.1-423.0) 
2016  1710  8.4  (8.0-8.8)  12  0.1  (0.1-0.2)  671  7.0  (6.5-7.5)  1027  45.3  (42.6-48.1)  11 173  367.6  (360.7-374.5) 
2017  1802  8.6  (8.2-9.0)  0.1  (0.0-0.1)  704  7.2  (6.6-7.7)  1093  46.9  (44.1-49.6)  11 275  362.1  (355.3-368.9) 
2018  1744  8.2  (7.8-8.5)  0.0  (0.0-0.1)  674  6.7  (6.2-7.2)  1067  44.5  (41.9-47.2)  10 882  345.1  (338.5-351.8) 

95%CI, 95% confidence interval; AAMRs, age-adjusted mortality rates/100 000 population (direct method, European standard population for 2013).

Table 3 shows the national AAMRs and those of each province in 1998 and 2018 for men, as well as the AAPC and 95%CI for the entire period. The national AAMR for men was 75.5 deaths/100 000 population in 1998 and 35.3/100 000 in 2018. Regarding the values of the AAPC index in men during the study period, the national average changed by −3.92% per year (Table 3). The geographical distribution of the provincial variations in the mortality rates of men in 1998 are presented in figure 1. Higher-than-average rates were found in Andalusia, the Valencian Community, and the nonmainland autonomous communities, followed by Extremadura and Region of Murcia. In the north half of the country, higher-than-average rates were only seen in Principality of Asturias and the province of Lugo. There was a significant decrease in the AAPC of men during the study period in all provinces (figure 2).

Table 3.

Premature mortality due to ischemic heart disease in men in Spanish provinces and the average annual percent change between 1998 and 2018

Area  19982018AAPC, %  95%CI 
  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI     
National  11 234  75.5  (74.1-76.9)  7036  35.3  (34.5-36.2)  −3.92  (−4.15; −3.70) 
Álava  63  59.0  (44.2-73.8)  32  21.2  (13.9-28.6)  −4.34  (−5.33; −3.33) 
Albacete  82  58.1  (45.4-70.8)  53  33.1  (24.0-42.1)  −3.32  (−4.19; −2.44) 
Alicante  489  94.5  (86.1-102.9)  328  39.6  (35.3-43.9)  −4.15  (−4.60; −3.69) 
Almería  152  91.6  (76.9-106.2)  97  36.4  (29.0-43.7)  −4.17  (−4.98; −3.35) 
Principality of Asturias  415  88.4  (79.9-97.0)  248  46.9  (41.1-52.8)  −2.92  (−3.37; −2.47) 
Ávila  52  62.7  (45.4-80.0)  18  22.0  (11.8-32.2)  −3.93  (−5.05; −2.80) 
Badajoz  193  77.2  (66.2-88.2)  99  34.0  (27.3-40.8)  −3.91  (−4.60; −3.21) 
Balearic Islands  218  79.7  (69.0-90.3)  151  34.0  (28.5-39.5)  −3.89  (−4.59; −3.18) 
Barcelona  1220  69.3  (65.4-73.2)  677  29.5  (27.2-31.7)  −4.46  (−4.83; −4.09) 
Burgos  78  52.2  (40.5-63.9)  63  35.1  (26.4-43.7)  −2.31  (−3.16; −1.45) 
Cáceres  139  78.7  (65.5-91.9)  72  38.5  (29.5-47.4)  −3.72  (−4.41; −3.03) 
Cádiz  326  100.8  (89.7-111.9)  220  43.6  (37.8-49.4)  −4.17  (−4.58; −3.75) 
Cantabria  128  60.8  (50.2-71.4)  91  33.4  (26.5-40.4)  −3.53  (−4.39; −2.67) 
Castellón  168  91.7  (77.8-105.7)  83  33.3  (26.1-40.5)  −4.15  (−4.84; −3.45) 
Autonomous City of Ceuta  21  108.4  (61.5-155.2)  20.1  (3.3-36.9)  −5.24  (−6.98; −3.47) 
Ciudad Real  115  57.8  (47.1-68.5)  61  29.1  (21.8-36.5)  −2.96  (−3.67; −2.24) 
Córdoba  227  83.0  (72.1-93.8)  116  35.6  (29.1-42.2)  −4.69  (−5.33; −4.05) 
A Coruña  325  74.7  (66.6-82.9)  198  36.9  (31.8-42.1)  −3.76  (−4.28; −3.23) 
Cuenca  54  52.1  (37.9-66.3)  22  25.0  (14.5-35.6)  −3.26  (−4.42; −2.08) 
Girona  128  59.3  (49.0-69.6)  99  30.7  (24.6-36.7)  −3.53  (−4.34; −2.71) 
Granada  282  97.8  (86.3-109.4)  176  46.5  (39.6-53.5)  −4.08  (−4.56; −3.60) 
Guadalajara  37  55.5  (37.1-73.8)  25  23.8  (14.3-33.4)  −3.72  (−4.88; −2.55) 
Guipúzcoa  174  65.8  (55.9-75.6)  86  25.1  (19.8-30.4)  −4.40  (−5.02; −3.77) 
Huelva  138  89.5  (74.5-104.5)  107  51.5  (41.7-61.3)  −4.27  (−5.04; −3.49) 
Huesca  56  55.5  (40.7-70.2)  40  38.2  (26.3-50.1)  −3.00  (−4.34; −1.63) 
Jaén  159  66.4  (55.9-76.8)  95  36.3  (28.9-43.7)  −2.54  (−3.16; −1.92) 
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria  331  134.2  (119.3-149.1)  282  61.0  (53.7-68.3)  −4.80  (−5.48; −4.11) 
León  138  58.9  (48.9-68.9)  88  37.8  (29.9-45.8)  −2.51  (−3.32; −1.69) 
Lleida  87  54.7  (43.0-66.3)  49  26.8  (19.2-34.4)  −5.72  (−6.60; −4.82) 
Lugo  145  83.5  (69.6-97.3)  72  42.7  (32.8-52.5)  −3.23  (−3.92; −2.55) 
Community of Madrid  1073  62.2  (58.5-66.0)  732  28.6  (26.5-30.7)  −4.33  (−4.70; −3.95) 
Málaga  434  104.8  (94.9-114.8)  313  45.7  (40.6-50.8)  −4.00  (−4.37; −3.63) 
Autonomous City of Melilla  13  82.7  (37.5-127.9)  13  46.0  (19.5-72.5)  −4.21  (−6.19; −2.18) 
Region of Murcia  296  78.1  (69.1-87.0)  192  33.9  (29.0-38.7)  −3.66  (−4.22; −3.11) 
Chartered Community of Navarre  144  68.2  (57.0-79.4)  70  24.0  (18.3-29.6)  −4.77  (−5.43; −4.10) 
Ourense  119  71.0  (58.1-83.9)  47  28.5  (20.4-36.7)  −3.88  (−4.75; −3.00) 
Palencia  45  59.7  (42.0-77.4)  37  43.6  (29.5-57.8)  −2.38  (−3.44; −1.31) 
Pontevedra  211  65.1  (56.3-74.0)  123  28.6  (23.5-33.7)  −3.90  (−4.53; −3.25) 
La Rioja  70  63.4  (48.5-78.3)  48  33.9  (24.3-43.5)  −3.18  (−4.11; −2.24) 
Santa Cruz de Tenerife  262  106.0  (93.0-119.0)  217  50.3  (43.6-57.1)  −3.76  (−4.37; −3.15) 
Salamanca  106  71.2  (57.5-84.9)  43  26.1  (18.3-33.9)  −4.92  (−5.75; −4.09) 
Segovia  29  41.3  (26.2-56.3)  24  32.2  (19.2-45.2)  −2.25  (−3.73; −0.76) 
Seville  552  103.7  (95.0-112.4)  366  48.6  (43.5-53.6)  −4.25  (−4.69; −3.81) 
Soria  20  42.6  (23.8-61.5)  15  35.5  (17.4-53.6)  −3.54  (−5.17; −1.89) 
Tarragona  155  67.5  (56.9-78.2)  123  35.6  (29.3-41.9)  −2.97  (−3.60; −2.35) 
Teruel  45  60.9  (42.5-79.3)  19  29.6  (16.2-43.0)  −3.37  (−4.68; −2.04) 
Toledo  143  66.8  (55.8-77.9)  79  28.0  (21.7-34.2)  −4.98  (−5.65; −4.30) 
Valencia  663  83.6  (77.2-89.9)  381  35.7  (32.1-39.3)  −4.26  (−4.66; −3.85) 
Valladolid  114  61.3  (50.0-72.6)  76  30.1  (23.3-36.9)  −2.91  (−3.75; −2.05) 
Vizcaya  306  66.3  (58.8-73.8)  185  33.5  (28.7-38.4)  −3.13  (−3.68; −2.58) 
Zamora  48  48.2  (34.2-62.1)  30  33.0  (21.1-44.9)  −3.15  (−4.20; −2.09) 
Zaragoza  246  69.7  (60.9-78.4)  149  35.1  (29.4-40.7)  −3.69  (−4.26; −3.11) 

95%CI, 95% confidence interval; AAMRs, age-adjusted mortality rates/100 000 population (direct method, European standard population for 2013); AAPC, average annual percent change estimated by Poisson models.

Figure 1.

Territorial differences in death due to ischemic heart disease in 1998. A: mortality rate in men (percentage) vs the national rate (75.5 deaths/100 000 population). B: mortality rate in women (percentage) vs the national rate (21.2 deaths/100 000 population). AAMR, age-adjusted mortality rate.

(0.2MB).
Figure 2.

Death due to ischemic heart disease: average annual percent change (AAPC) by province from 1998 to 2018. A: men. B: women.

(0.26MB).

In women, the national AAMRs were 21.2 deaths/100 000 population in 1998 and 8.2/100 000 in 2018 (table 4). The AAPC index values in women during the entire period were always negative and significant in all Spanish provinces, with a national average of −5.07%. The lower part of figure 1 illustrates the geographical distribution of the provincial variations in the mortality rates of women in 1998. The most unfavorable rates were found in the autonomous communities in the south and east, as well as in the Autonomous City of Melilla. In the north, only the Principality of Asturias and the province of A Coruña slightly exceeded the average. In the center, in contrast to the situation for men, higher-than-average rates were found in the provinces of Soria and Cuenca. As shown in the lower part of figure 2, the AAPC of women significantly decreased in all provinces.

Table 4.

Premature mortality due to ischemic heart disease in women in Spanish provinces and the average annual percent change between 1998 and 2018

Area  19982018AAPC, %  95%CI 
  AAMR  95%CI  AAMR  95%CI     
National  3642  21.2  (20.5-21.8)  1744  8.2  (7.8-8.5)  −5.07  (−5.48; −4.66) 
Álava  13  12  (5.5-18.5)  (1.5-8.5)  −5.46  (−7.73; −3.13) 
Albacete  29  18.3  (11.6-25.1)  11  6.9  (2.8-11.0)  −5.75  (−7.44; −4.03) 
Alicante  180  31  (26.5-35.5)  98  11.1  (8.9-13.3)  −5.22  (−5.83; −4.61) 
Almería  52  28.4  (20.7-36.2)  27  10.2  (6.3-14.0)  −5.53  (−6.67; −4.37) 
Principality of Asturias  126  22.1  (18.2-26.0)  70  11.8  (9.0-14.5)  −3.31  (−4.28; −2.33) 
Ávila  17  18.6  (9.5-27.8)  2.7  (0.0-6.4)  −3.96  (−6.16; −1.70) 
Badajoz  71  23.8  (18.2-29.3)  29  9.7  (6.2-13.3)  −5.92  (−6.91; −4.92) 
Balearic Islands  64  20.6  (15.6-25.7)  31  6.7  (4.3-9.1)  −4.71  (−5.74; −3.68) 
Barcelona  384  18.4  (16.5-20.2)  113  4.4  (3.6-5.2)  −6.53  (−7.20; −5.85) 
Burgos  13  7.3  (3.3-11.4)  3.4  (0.7-6.2)  −4.02  (−6.34; −1.64) 
Cáceres  57  28.8  (21.2-36.4)  15  7.9  (3.9-11.9)  −6.44  (−7.78; −5.08) 
Cádiz  128  34.9  (28.8-41.0)  68  12.8  (9.8-15.9)  −5.06  (−5.73; −4.39) 
Cantabria  35  14.5  (9.7-19.4)  15  5.2  (2.6-7.8)  −4.45  (−5.90; −2.98) 
Castellón  56  27  (19.9-34.0)  16  6.3  (3.2-9.3)  −6.32  (−7.50; −5.12) 
Autonomous City of Ceuta  11  50.1  (20.4-79.8)  22.8  (4.3-41.4)  −2.84  (−5.39; −0.21) 
Ciudad Real  46  20.7  (14.6-26.7)  12  5.5  (2.4-8.6)  −6.06  (−7.29; −4.82) 
Córdoba  89  27.4  (21.7-33.2)  22  6.5  (3.8-9.3)  −7.37  (−8.38; −6.35) 
A Coruña  115  22.2  (18.1-26.3)  46  7.6  (5.4-9.8)  −4.52  (−5.48; −3.55) 
Cuenca  24  21.5  (12.7-30.3)  4.8  (0.1-9.5)  −4.99  (−7.21; −2.72) 
Girona  31  13.4  (8.7-18.2)  24  7.7  (4.6-10.7)  −4.59  (−6.03; −3.13) 
Granada  107  31.8  (25.7-37.8)  43  10.9  (7.6-14.2)  −5.23  (−6.06; −4.40) 
Guadalajara  10  12.6  (4.8-20.4)  (2.0-14.0)  −2.91  (−5.33; −0.43) 
Guipúzcoa  40  13.4  (9.2-17.5)  24  6.5  (3.9-9.1)  −4.88  (−6.30; −3.44) 
Huelva  53  30  (21.9-38.1)  20  (5.0-12.9)  −5.38  (−6.51; −4.24) 
Huesca  13  12.3  (5.5-19.0)  (0.1-7.9)  −4.12  (−6.23; −1.96) 
Jaén  59  21.5  (15.9-27.0)  25  (5.5-12.6)  −4.35  (−5.67; −3.00) 
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria  116  44.8  (36.5-53.0)  88  19.4  (15.3-23.4)  −5.59  (−6.44; −4.74) 
León  31  11.8  (7.6-16.1)  18  7.5  (4.0-10.9)  −2.68  (−4.43; −0.90) 
Lleida  30  16.6  (10.6-22.6)  4.8  (1.7-8.0)  −5.79  (−7.47; −4.08) 
Lugo  40  18.6  (12.7-24.5)  11  6.2  (2.5-9.9)  −5.21  (−6.67; −3.74) 
Community of Madrid  280  13.6  (12.0-15.2)  199  6.7  (5.7-7.6)  −4.33  (−5.10; −3.55) 
Málaga  140  29.8  (24.9-34.8)  88  11.9  (9.4-14.4)  −4.98  (−5.63; −4.32) 
Autonomous City of Melilla  20.8  (0.4-41.1)  13.5  (0.0-29.0)  −4.16  (−7.35; −0.87) 
Region of Murcia  115  26.5  (21.7-31.4)  43  7.6  (5.3-9.8)  −6.76  (−7.71; −5.80) 
Chartered Community of Navarre  37  15.9  (10.8-21.0)  15  5.3  (2.6-7.9)  −5.22  (−6.84; −3.57) 
Ourense  45  21.2  (14.9-27.4)  11  6.4  (2.6-10.3)  −5.41  (−6.89; −3.90) 
Palencia  15  17  (8.0-25.9)  (0.7-11.4)  −2.63  (−4.79; −0.43) 
Pontevedra  60  15.5  (11.6-19.5)  40  8.2  (5.7-10.8)  −4.75  (−5.84; −3.64) 
La Rioja  11  8.5  (3.5-13.6)  11  7.5  (3.0-11.9)  −3.58  (−5.52; −1.60) 
Salamanca  23  12  (7.1-16.9)  3.4  (0.7-6.1)  −4.56  (−6.48; −2.59) 
Santa Cruz de Tenerife  96  34.6  (27.6-41.5)  62  14  (10.5-17.4)  −5.23  (−6.24; −4.20) 
Segovia  14  18.6  (8.7-28.5)  12  (3.7-20.3)  −3.02  (−5.63; −0.33) 
Seville  223  35.7  (31.0-40.4)  109  13  (10.6-15.5)  −5.38  (−6.04; −4.71) 
Soria  12  23.1  (9.8-36.5)  7.4  (0.0-15.7)  −4.97  (−8.82; −0.95) 
Tarragona  52  20.5  (14.9-26.0)  31  8.8  (5.7-11.9)  −5.02  (−6.17; −3.85) 
Teruel  12  14.9  (6.4-23.4)  11.6  (3.0-20.2)  −3.97  (−6.49; −1.39) 
Toledo  30  12.5  (8.0-17.0)  20  7.3  (4.1-10.5)  −5.28  (−6.86; −3.67) 
Valencia  232  24.8  (21.6-27.9)  95  8.1  (6.4-9.7)  −5.81  (−6.36; −5.26) 
Valladolid  33  15.9  (10.5-21.4)  19  (3.9-10.2)  −5.24  (−7.00; −3.43) 
Vizcaya  86  16.6  (13.1-20.1)  49  8.1  (5.8-10.4)  −3.84  (−4.76; −2.92) 
Zamora  17  12.7  (6.7-18.8)  9.8  (3.4-16.3)  −3.44  (−5.50; −1.35) 
Zaragoza  65  15.8  (12.0-19.7)  39  8.5  (5.8-11.1)  −4.21  (−5.22; −3.19) 

95%CI, 95% confidence interval; AAMRs, age-adjusted mortality rates/100 000 population (direct method, European standard population for 2013); AAPC, average annual percent change estimated by Poisson models.

Figure 3 illustrates the national mortality trends from 1998 to 2018 in individuals younger and older than 74 years. For men and women younger than 74 years, the fall was uniform, with very small fluctuations. Although the magnitude was greater, the same pattern of reduced mortality was seen in those older than 74 years. The initial PM figures fell to practically half at the end of the study period. In addition, throughout the entire period, PM due to IHD in men was slightly more than 3 times that in women.

Figure 3.

Annual trends in mortality due to ischemic heart disease adjusted by age from 1998 to 2018 in men and women in Spain and by age 0 to 74 years (A) and > 74 years (B).

(0.29MB).
DISCUSSION

This study reveals a widespread decrease in the mean PM due to IHD from 1998 to 2018 at both the national and provincial levels that, on average, was more pronounced in women than in men (53% vs 61%). The geographical variations in the PM rates were heterogeneously distributed. The 3 regions exhibiting the greatest decrease in men were Lleida, Ceuta, and Toledo, whereas Palencia, Burgos, and Segovia showed the lowest decrease. In women, the 3 regions with the greatest decreases were Córdoba, Region of Murcia, and Barcelona; the lowest decreases were seen in Ceuta, León, and Palencia.

Our results are in agreement with those of the Spanish Health Information Institute (IIS),15 which covered the period from 1990 to 2006 and concluded that the ACs with the worst AAMRs are in the south (Andalusia, the Canary Islands, and the Autonomous Cities of Ceuta and Melilla) and the Valencian Community. The data are also in line with those reported by Boix et al.,17 who analyzed the period from 1988 to 1997 and the population aged between 35 and 64 years. The present study confirms that there was a reduction in mortality rates at the national level from 1998 to 2018, which is sustained17 and significant in all provinces and in both sexes. These results thus answer some of the questions raised by Boix et al.17 In addition, their results show that the north-south divide in Spain is maintained in the study period and they mention possible factors that could contribute to this heterogeneity,17 such as the geographical differences and the trends in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), socioeconomic level, and health care quality and access. The results of the present study are also in line with the fall in acute myocardial infarction mortality observed by Dégano et al.,5 who estimated AAPC decreases of −4.4 and −7.3 in men and women in the province of Girona between 1985 and 2010, although the rates were calculated using a different methodology.

Differences among ACs have been found and analyzed in other studies, such as that by Banegas et al.2 in 2006, which also indicated that the geographical variability was similar to that seen in other cardiovascular diseases. Gómez-Martínez et al.,18 from 1999 to 2013, found a generalized mean decrease, both national and by AC, in PM due to heart failure in Spain that was also more pronounced in women than in men.

Progress has been made in the understanding of CVRFs in Spain in recent years.2,15–17,23,24 Modifiable CVRFs can be addressed in primary and secondary prevention. As shown in table 1, the pattern of the decline appears to be similar in age groups lower and higher than 74 years, indicating that there is no generational delay in the onset of fatal and nonfatal IHD events. The ERICE study,25 published in 2008, found that the major burden of CVRFs was present in the southeast and Mediterranean regions of Spain, with the lowest burden in the north and center. In 2010, the DARIOS study26 determined that the Canary Islands, Andalusia, and Extremadura had higher mortality due to IHD and higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in both sexes. Recently, Orozco Beltrán et al.23 also found a heterogeneous geographical distribution, with excess mortality due to diabetes in southern and southeastern provinces. However, they also observed that the previous north-south divide ameliorated in 2008 and even disappeared in 2013, concluding that “these findings strengthen the hypothesis that the advances in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and the new drugs approved in these years have smoothened the mortality rates between patients with and without diabetes mellitus and that a higher prevalence would not necessarily equal higher mortality”.

Although the association between CVRFs and PM due to IHD does not allow us to make definitive conclusions and more studies are required, it seems reasonable to suppose that the worse behavior in the abovementioned regions is primarily due to their worse situation in terms of risk factors because there is no evidence that it can be attributed to other causes in this age group, such as differences in treatment or demographics.27

It is reasonable to attribute the observed behavior both to improvements in treatments and early diagnoses and to changes in the prevalence of risk factors, as has been postulated previously. Notably, the Infarction Code Program had not yet been implemented in most ACs in the period of this study, although catheterization units were operating in some hospitals. The implementation of the Infarction Code Program was recommended in 2009 in the Ischemic Heart Disease Strategy document of the Spanish National Health System28 and was introduced in the different ACs at different speeds.

Regardless, we consider it vital to continue investigating the regional differences in the trends in mortality due to IHD and in their causes to design and trial approaches aimed at reducing the incidence and lethality of this disease. All preventive measures to improve the control of CVRFs will culminate in additional improvements in the rates of mortality due to cardiovascular diseases and, consequently, of PM due to IHD.

Limitations

A possible limitation that would affect all studies of mortality would be related to the variability among regions in the coding of the basic cause of death, despite the application of standardized coding methods. The INE periodically reports the methodology and validity of the selection and grouping of the main causes of death. Spanish mortality data are treated and validated in the provincial delegations, in the different ACs, and in the central headquarters of the INE. This process can be consulted in the methodological reports of the INE.29 Regardless, there is no indication that these limitations would significantly affect the quality of the data and the results obtained from their analysis.

In addition, because the mortality data obtained from the INE do not provide individual data on CVRFs or on treatments or lifestyles, our analysis could not consider these variables. Accordingly, the reasons mentioned in the discussion of the present study to explain the observed mortality patterns were based on the literature consulted and were analyzed in the current work.

CONCLUSIONS

By analyzing the rate of PM due to IHD in the entire Spanish territory, our results show that there was a continued and marked tendency for a decrease in PM in both sexes during the study period. Both AAMRs of mortality and its variations were not homogeneous throughout the country but the heterogeneity was reduced at the end of the period, which suggests that the interprovincial differences are being dampened in recent years.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE TOPIC?

  • -

    Mortality due to IHD is very high. National AAMRs of mortality have decreased in men and women for several decades, although studies have not found significant differences at regional levels. A heterogeneous geographical distribution is evident, with higher mortality in southern and eastern Spain.

WHAT DOES THIS STUDY ADD?

  • -

    The AAMRs of premature mortality continue to fall, significantly so in all provinces and in both sexes. The north-south divide is being softened, as in other studies of diabetes and CVRFs. The current data do not permit separate quantification of the effects of CVRF prevention, treatments, or implementation of the Infarction Code Program and catheterization units.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Prometeo/2017/173 project of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports of the Valencian Government.

APPENDIX. SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Supplementary data associated with this article can be found in the online version available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rec.2020.09.034

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