Diagnoses of fatal and non-fatal CHD events in the Finnish HDR and Causes of Death register were reasonably valid indicators for hard CHD events when compared with the FINMONICA/FINAMI register data.

Diagnoses of fatal and non-fatal CHD events in the Finnish HDR and Causes of Death register were reasonably valid indicators for hard CHD events when compared with the FINMONICA/FINAMI register data.

Elevated levels of acute-phase proteins and cytokines, particularly CRP and IL-6, are strong predictors of the risk of serious coronary events in patients with UAP.

The changing diagnostic criteria present a considerable challenge for the assessment of long-term trends in MI events in the community as well as for longitudinal studies of the natural history of MI. The 2003 definition, when applied using troponins, identified a sizable new group of MI patients, among persons with suspected acute coronary syndrome, at high risk of a recurrent event.

The study period was characterized by a marked reduction in the occurrence of recurrent CHD events and a relatively modest reduction in the 28-day case fatality. The findings suggest that primary and secondary prevention have played the main roles in the decline in CHD mortality in Finland.