Abstract
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? The burden of heart disease is increasing rapidly due to the aging population and changing lifestyles in China. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? This study investigated the evolution of mortality rates due to heart disease in urban and rural areas of China over the past 35 years, and identified the age-period-cohort effects on mortality changes. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? Healthcare providers should prioritize attention to heart disease among older males living in rural areas.