[Effectiveness of a preventive mass examination for cardiac risk factors (author's transl)]

18 months after a mass examination for coronary heart disease risk factors in employees of a large industrial firm, 75% of the subjects examined at that time were re-interviewed and measurements of blood pressure and weight repeated. Despite an altogether inadequate longterm control of the risk factors detected, a part of the subjects examined had drawn consequences regarding their way of life by reducing weight, changing smoking habits and increasing physical activity, thus proving the effectiveness of information and advice received in a screening investigation. In about 40% of the overweight subjects a reduction in weight and in half of the hypertensives a lowering of blood pressure to values below 160/95 mmHg was noted.