Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in France. During the period 1985–1994, a significant decline in the incidence and mortality rates of coronary heart disease was observed in the three French MONICA (MONItoring trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease) centers, as well as in other centers in Western Europe. Since the international project ended in the mid-1990s, only fragmentary information exists regarding the continuation of this trend. Beginning in 1997, the three French centers that participated in the MONICA study implemented a new system for recording ischemic heart disease. This system enabled the standardized collection of coronary events occurring among residents of three French regions characterized by contrasting rates of coronary events. Currently, we have validated data for six consecutive years, from 1997 to 2002, which provides us with the opportunity to study recent trends in coronary morbidity and mortality. This study reports on the temporal trends of coronary heart disease in the three French registries of ischemic heart disease from 1997 to 2002. (Introduction)