An attempt to evaluate the risk factors related to coronary heart disease in Hungary

Using questionnaires, the authors evaluated the risk of coronary heart disease in different groups of Hungarian society. Among physicians, teachers, factory workers and agricultural workers, the latter seem to be at the highest risk. On the basis of these results obtained in a population of 363 agricultural employees, a detailed risk factor analysis was made. These results were compared with those of the Framingham Offspring Study. Hungarians show alarmingly often a high blood cholesterol level, hypertension, smoking and obesity (the latter factor in women). The more frequent occurrence of the three main risk factors (high blood cholesterol, hypertension, smoking) in young Hungarians is concordant with the fact that the incidence of myocardial infarction in young people in Hungary is one of the highest in the world. The frequency of a positive parental history and obesity in men is lower in the Hungarian population than in the American one. The risk of coronary heart disease in the examined Hungarian population is considered high. The authors have launched a preventive programme.