5- and 10-year mortality in a rural middle-aged population at Haapavesi, Northern Finland, with special reference to ischaemic heart disease.

: As a part of a larger prospective population study of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) the causes of 5- and 10-year mortality were analysed in 1554 rural inhabitants aged 40 to 59 years (90.0% of the population of this age group) in Northern Finland. The total mortality in 5 years was 2.3% among women and 6.3% among men. The respective 10-year mortality figures were 6.2% and 13.4%. The proportion of IHD as a cause of these deaths among women was 35% and 34% in 5 and 10 years, respectively; among men 46% and 46% of the deaths were due to IHD in 5 and 10 years, respectively. Among women the proportion of strokes was 22% and 19% in 5 and 10 years, respectively; the other causes of death among women amounted to 43% and 47% in 5 and 10 years, respectively. Among men, strokes resulted in the death of 14% and 7% in 5 and 10 years, respectively, the other causes of death amounted to 40% and 47% in 5 and 10 years, respectively. The incidence of IHD as a cause of death among women was higher than previously reported.