ABSTRACT
Prevalence and Incidence The global burden of cardiovascular disease is immense, and it remains the principal cause of mortality worldwide. Coronary heart disease mortality showed a rapid rise after the 2nd World War reaching a peak around 1970. Still it is estimated that 12 millions deaths will be attributable to CHD in the year 2020. Annual coronary event rates differ greatly between countries ranging from 60/100,000 in China to >400/100,000 in the United Kingdom (1).
