Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the annual incidence of hospital morbidity and mortality rates of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the population of Nis who were treated at the Cardiology Clinic in Nis during the period 1974-2000.
Material and methods: A retrospective clinical-epidemiological study was carried out in the population of the city of Nis aged 30 years and over. The number of citizens of Nis, aged 30 years and over, was 71,500 in 1974, and 100,000 in 2000, while the male to female ratio was 48%:52%.
Results: During the period from 1974 to 2000, 4319 patients of both sexes with AMI received hospital treatment. The average annual incidence rate was 159.92 per 100,000 inhabitants aged 30 years and over. The average annual incidence of AMI showed a trend of progressive increase, and in 2000 it was 274.87 (2.7 times higher than in 1974--102.19). The average annual mortality for both sexes was 1.57% (9.82% for males and 15.89% for females). The female mortality rate was significantly higher (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Trends in annual incidence rate of AMI in the population of the city of Nis aged 30 years and over are characterized by progressive increase during the period from 1974 to 2000. The trend line: yt = 159.92 + 6.2432x shows that without primary prevention further increase in the incidence of AMI can be expected.