Trends in ischemic heart disease mortality in Italy, 1968-78.

In Italy during the period 1968-78, female heart disease mortality decreased in all age groups up to age 79, with an average annual rate of decline in the 35-74 age-standardized rate of over 0.7 per cent. In males, age-specific death rates in some age groups were stable or increased moderately, but in middle-aged (50 to 59) males there was a consistent increase so that the rise in the 35-74 age standardized male death rate was approximately 1 per cent per year.