Background: Research from some industrialised countries indicated a flattening of the declining
ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality trends in certain population groups. This study
aims to investigate age-standardised, as well as sex- and age-specific time trends
in IHD mortality in Germany. Methods: Using German vital statistics between 1980 and 2007, age-standardised and age-specific
IHD mortality rates for men and women were calculated. Joinpoint software was used
to estimate average annual percentage changes (AAPC) together with 95% confidence
intervals and to identify changing trends in mortality. Trends for West Germany alone
were investigated to account for the reunification in 1990. Results: Since 1980 marked reductions in mortality of 50% in men and 39% in women were observed,
with AAPC of 2.4% and 1.5%, respectively. While moderate declines in mortality were
observed since the early 80s in men, significant reductions in women were only found
after 1995. Trends in mortality varied substantially across age-groups, showing reductions
in older age (75+ years) only during the last 5–10 years. A flattening of mortality
declines was not observed. In West Germany overall reductions and AAPC were larger
and differences between men and women were somewhat smaller. Conclusion: German IHD mortality trends present a complex picture with profound reductions since
1980. However, declines were smaller and delayed compared to other industrialised
countries. Also, time trends were not homogeneous in men and women, as well as across
age groups. Preventive measures need to be strengthened to account for failures in
the past and to counter the increasing burden of modifiable risk factors.
