Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate features of deaths due to heart and cerebrovascular diseases(HCDs)from 1981 to 2013 among residents in Dalian city and to provide scientific basis for the control of HCDs.MethodsThis study was based on death surveillance data in Dalian.Mortality rate(MR),crude death rate(CDR),age-adjusted mortality rate(AAM),annual percent change(APC)were calculated.ResultsFrom 1981 to 2013,the CDR of HCDs fluctuated from 92.85/100 000 to 131.30/100 000 and increased slowly,with an APC of 1.92(P<0.01);the AAM of HCDs fluctuated from 49.25/100 000 to 151.19/100 000 and decreased slowly,with an APC of-3.82(P<0.01).During the period,HCDs accounted for 15.08%-22.37% of the all deaths and ranked as the third cause of death after the year of 2002.The ranges of CDR and AAM of HCDs were 100.88/100 000-143.22/100 000 and 54.59/100 000-148.65/100 000 for males,and 82.66/100 000-120.89/100 000 and 43.56/100 000-156.24/100 000 for females during the period,with the yearly decrease trend in AAM for males and CDR for females.The mortality rate of cerebrovascular disease was very low for the residents aged under 15 years,whereas,the rate increased with age for the residents at the age of ≥15 and <50 years but decreased with age for the residents of ≥50 years old.ConclusionHCDs have emerged as primary causes of death for Dalian residents and much more attentions should be paid for the prevention and control of HCDs.