Impact of coronary heart disease on world leaders.
Ann Intern Med
; 134(4): 287-90, 2001 Feb 20.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11182839
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Previous studies have shown that from 1965 to 1996, coronary heart disease was a frequent natural cause of death among world leaders.OBJECTIVE:
To assess incidence of and death from coronary heart disease among world leaders and to determine the effect of this disease on office-holding ability.DESIGN:
Archive search of worldwide English-language and translated press and media reports from 1970 to 1999 for reference to coronary events.SETTING:
U.S. federal government medical analytic unit.PARTICIPANTS:
National principal decision makers in countries with populations greater than 250 000. MEASUREMENTS Reports of angina, heart attack, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmia attributed to coronary artery disease; use of cardiac procedures; receipt of foreign care; death; and removal from office.RESULTS:
64 leaders had initial coronary heart disease events while holding their nation's highest office. Initial event rates decreased from the 1970s to the 1990s (1.9 events per 100 person-years vs. 1.1 events per 100 person-years). Survival, use of procedures, and receipt of foreign care increased over time. Most leaders who survived an acute event continued to function in office.CONCLUSIONS:
Incidence of and death from coronary heart disease among office-holding world leaders has decreased over the past 30 years, possibly because of increased use of cardiac procedures. A coronary event in a world leader is unlikely to presage a change in government.
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Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Coronary Disease
/
Leadership
Type of study:
Incidence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Year:
2001
Type:
Article