Mortality from coronary heart disease and acute myocardial infarction--United States, 1998.

Despite improved clinical care, heightened public awareness, and widespread use of health innovations, coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and the decline in rates from CHD that began during the 1960s slowed during the 1990s. This report provides national and state-specific death rates for CHD and for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). During 2001, approximately 1.1 million persons are expected to have a CHD event. Prevention remains the key strategy for reducing CHD mortality.