RESUMO
BACKGROUND: To identify the determinants of the geographic distribution of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in Spain. POPULATION AND METHODS: Ecological study at the provincial level. Data are obtained from the 1976-1980 vital statistics, the 1964-1965 Household Budget Survey and the 1970 Population Census. RESULTS: Consumption of wine, chicken, fish, and vegetables, as well as illiteracy, explain 47% of IHD mortality. Consumption of wine alone exhibits a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) with IHD mortality. Moderate consumption of wine is negatively associated with IHD mortality, whereas higher consumption reveals a positive association. CONCLUSION: Results are consistent with those from an earlier study in Spain for the 1983-1987 period.