Relationship between IHD risk factors and educational level in the Warsaw Pol-MONICA population

In the paper presented, the relationship was analysed between the educational level and the level of risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in a random sample of the Warsaw population aged 35-64 years. Men with a lower educational level (elementary or basic vocational) were found to have a significantly higher means for systolic blood pressure level, for plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration, for the numbers of cigarettes smoked daily, and for the probability of IHD development according to the multivariate logistic function of Farchi and Menotti, and also significantly greater prevalences of cigarette smoking, hypertension and overweight. And for men, a negative relationship was noted between educational level and plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration. Women with a lower educational level had a higher mean plasma triglyceride concentration, higher values of systolic and systolic blood pressures, a greater probability of IHD development, and higher prevalences of hypertension, obesity and ischaemic heart disease symptoms. And for women, a negative relationship with educational level was noted for plasma LDL-cholesterol concentration and for the mean value of the overall risk score according to Rose.