Resumen

ROSELLO ARAYA, Marlene  y  GUZMAN PADILLA, Sonia. Mortalidad por infarto agudo de miocardio: distribución geográfica y lugar de ocurrencia. Costa Rica, 1970 - 2002. Rev. costarric. cardiol [online]. 2003, vol.5, n.3, pp.25-29. ISSN 1409-4142.

Introduction: Since 1970, in Costa Rica the mortality by cardiovascular disease, has been the main cause of death, for women and men. 48% of these deaths are due to isquemic heart disease and, out of this, two thirds to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Objective: To describe the evolution of the acute myocardial infarction mortality rate, by geographic distribution and place of occurrence in Costa Rica, from 1970 to 2002. Methodology: For the present study, data of the Central American Population Program of the National Statistics and Census Institute was used, information on decease costarrican residents of all ages was obtained. Descriptive statistics were elaborated using Excel program. Results: Standardized Mortality Rate (SMR) by AMI rose 12,5% in men and, decreased 7,7% women, from 1970 to 2002. For the period 2000-2002, the SMR of San Jose was higher than in Alajuela, Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limón (p<0,001); the SMR from Guanacaste was lower than Alajuela´s, Cartago´s and Heredia´s. From 25 years up, the SMR of men were higher than women’s. In the five-year term of 1970-1074, 53,1% of people died in their homes; 37,7% at the hospital and, 9,5% in other health establishments. In 2000-2002, 47,6% of people died at home and 43,9% at the hospital. No differences of age and sex were found. Conclusion: The differences found in this study, suggests the need to investigate the presence of AMI risk factors, associated to the place of occurrence and geographic areas of our country.

Palabras clave : AMI; EIC; mortality; rate; risk factors; prevalence.