Objective: To study the trend in premature mortality (before 75 years of age) from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in a Swedish primary health care district compared to communities of similar demographic situation and all Sweden.
Design: Mortality from IHD in men and women was compared between the community of Habo and other Swedish communities of similar size and all Sweden for the period 1984-96.
Setting: The community of Habo in Sweden with about 9600 inhabitants.
Intervention: Intensified efforts by the local primary health care organisation, in co-operation with the community, in respect of primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention since the beginning of the 1980s.
Results: Mortality from IHD has decreased significantly both in Habo and in Sweden during these years. The decrease has been more prominent in Habo than in Sweden as a whole and other Swedish communities of similar demographic situation.
Conclusion: With increased and purposeful efforts in primary and secondary prevention, in co-operation between the community and primary health care, it is possible to substantially decrease mortality from IHD in the community.