[Prevention of cardiovascular diseases in Rissa]

In 1986 the National Health Screening Service conducted cardiovascular risk factor screening of women and men aged 40-42 in Sør-Trøndelag county. In one of the municipalities, Rissa, the level of serum cholesterol was high (7.10 mmol/l in men and 6.64 mmol/l in women), as was the total coronary heart disease risk level. The local health authorities launched a health education programme which included population strategy efforts and a high risk intervention programme conducted by the primary health services. Screening of the next generation of women and men aged 40-42 three years later (in 1989) revealed highly significant lower serum cholesterol levels in both sexes (5.83 mmol/l in men and 5.55 mmol/l in women), and significant lower systolic blood pressure in men. Smoking habits had not changed significantly from the first to the second generation. For men, total coronary heart disease risk level was less than one half the level three years earlier. The attendance rate was high, between 80 and 90%, at both examinations.