[Are there common risk factors for the development of ischemic heart disease and colorectal carcinoma?]

The author evaluates accepted risks for the genesis and development of ischaemic heart disease in relation to their incidence in patients with confirmed colorectal adenoma. These risks were investigated in 194 patients with adenoma of the large intestine and their presence was compared with a group of 200 subjects not suffering from this disease. In the investigated group with colorectal adenoma an elevated blood pressure was recorded in 98 patients (50.5%), hypercholesterolaemia in 127 (65.5%), obesity in 113 (58.3%) and smoking in 104 patients (53.6%). In the control group of 200 subjects a high blood pressure was recorded in 54 patients (27%), hypercholesterolaemia in 72 (36%), obesity in 70 patients (35%) and smoking in 101 cases (50.5%). The results are discussed with regard to possible aimed secondary prevention, as the contemporary screening of colorectal cancer by means of occult haemorrhage tests is done only up to the age of 45 years. The risk of obesity, hypercholesterolaemia and high blood pressure is found in the group with colorectal adenoma significantly more frequently, as compared with the control group not suffering from oncological disease.