ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the time trends and age-related characteristics of mortality and disease burden for cardiocerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in Hunan, China during three periods (1973-1975, 1990-1992 and 2004-2005).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cardiocerebrovascular death data of Hunan residents were collected by three national retrospective sample surveys of death. Cause-specific mortality, proportion, years of potential life lost (YPLL) and associated indicators were identified in the population of Hunan in above mentioned three periods. Time trends of age-specific mortality rate were assessed by fitting curvilinear regression lines and the increase rates of mortality with age were analyzed in each period.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The standard all-cause mortality of residents in Hunan decreased (chi2 = 189.947, P < 0.001, chi2 = 54.201, P < 0.001; chi2 = 27,396.898, P < 0.001) while the standard mortality for CVD increased (chi2 = 54.201, P < 0.001; chi2 = 27,396.898, P < 0.001) from 1973 to 2005. The age-specific mortality rate for CVD increased with age in all three periods, especially for citizens older than 60 years. There were age stages in each period in which the mortality increase rate was the fastest (10-14 and 15-19 years old in 1973-1975; 10-14, 15-19 and over 80 years old in 1990-1992; 15-19 and over 80 years old in 2004-2005). Exponential regression function (y = b0e(b1x)) can be used for the proper description of age-specific mortality change. The ratio of YPLL for CVD in all death causes showed increase trend (chi2 = 275,630.407, P < 0.001). YPLL rate (YPLLs per 1000) in 1973-1975 was higher than those in 1990-1992 and 2004-2005. YPLL rate was positively correlated with mortality in all periods.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The mortality for CVD increased with time and aging. People older than 60 years were threatened by CVD mostly. Mortality trend analysis also found higher CVD deaths in people age 15-19 in Hunan residents.</p>