Ten years' experience in a cardiovascular disease prevention community programme in Austria

In 1977, a field survey of coronary risk factors was undertaken in a Tyrolean village. All inhabitants aged between 20 and 64 years were investigated for hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension and smoking. In subsequent years a community intervention programme was developed and implemented in a joint endeavour between the general practitioners of the village and the project leader. After 10 years, in May 1987, a new survey was conducted in the age group 20 to 74 years. The mean values for systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as the plasma cholesterol level in the population were found to be significantly lower than 10 years previously. There was a substantial, but not significant reduction in the percentage of male smokers in the age group 20 to 64 years, but no change in the percentage of female smokers.