Starting in 1984, the three French registries of ischemic heart disease participated in the international MONICA project (MONItoring trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease) under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO). This project compiled data from 38 centers across 21 countries on four continents. This study confirmed the decline in coronary mortality worldwide during the 1980s. More than 50% of this decrease was attributed to improved care during the acute phase of myocardial infarction, and 15 to 30% to the decline in the incidence of coronary heart disease in the population. The recording of acute coronary events, according to the standardized protocol of the international MONICA-WHO project, was conducted from 1984 to 1993 in the three French regions monitored by the registries: the Lille Urban Community (Lille), the Bas-Rhin (Strasbourg), and the Haute-Garonne (Toulouse). Analysis of international data had revealed a north-to-south gradient in coronary morbidity and mortality. This gradient was also observed in France. The three French registries continued their recording activities, and a simplified protocol was adopted starting in 1997. We currently have validated data from 6 years of registration for the three French centers (1997 to 2002). This study presents the average rates of coronary events, incidence, and mortality recorded over these 6 years in the three regions. (Introduction)