The Community Study Stuttgart

A basic objective of the "Community Study Stuttgart", a part of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study (GCP), which began in April 1984 and will end in December 1991, is to develop and utilize globally applicable intervention measures through which cardiovascular risk factors can be reduced effectively under the population's living conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany. Vital elements of intervention include exerting influence on individual health behaviour as well as creating and developing community structures and provisions to foster health. The intervention is directed towards behaviour in the sectors of nutrition, physical activity and (non-)smoking, but psychosocial constellations will also be taken into consideration. The long-range goal of the study is a reduction in the incidence of ischaemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases (as well as the ensuring reduction in total mortality) among the community populations as compared to the average population of the same age in the Federal Republic of Germany. The intervention concept is based on a broadened pathogenetic chain in which the so-called classic somatic risk factors for cardiovascular diseases have been supplemented by behaviour-related psychosocial factors and living conditions which influence health behaviour. Each of the target variables is significant in itself within the intervention concept. In the study, it is assumed that the community framework is of essential relevance to daily life and affects community members' knowledge, attitudes and opportunities for realization. On the basis of scientific studies on the lifestyle concept, an intervention concept was developed which centres on the population of defined communities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)