The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of myocardial infarction (MI) incidence regarding the age, gender, infarction site and the most important risk factors. Between 1989 and 1997 there were 3454 patients hospitalized in coronary care units of Clinical Hospital Split. In the three-year period preceding the war, from 1989-1991, 1024 patients were hospitalized because of MI. During the three years of full was activities, from 1992-1994, there were 1257 patients (significantly more, p < 0.05), and in the three-year period after the was, from 1995-1997, there were 1173 patients. In the war period there were 12% (151) patients under the 45 years of age (p < 0.05); of that number, 95% (143) were men (significantly more than in other two periods, p < 0.05), and 5% (8) were women. In the period preceding the was there were 6.5% (66) patients under the 45 years; 91% (60) men and 9% (6) women, whereas in the period after the war there were 7.5% (88), 92% (81) and 8% (7), respectively. The patients under 45 (305) more often had MI of inferior than anterior site (49 vs. 28%, p < 0.001), whereas there was no difference in patients over 45 (36 vs. 37%, p > 0.05). The patients over 45 had significantly higher hospital mortality (21 vs. 4%, p < 0.001), and were more likely to have hypertension (51 vs. 15%, p < 0.001) as well as hypercholesterolemia (54 vs. 14%, p < 0.001). Smokers were more prevalent among those under the 45 (75 vs. 51%, p < 0.001). The number of hospitalized patients with MI was the greatest during the war period. It included significant increase in incidence in men under 45 (12 vs. 7%, p < 0.05), with smoking as the most important risk factor, especially for infarctions of inferior site.