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[Cholesterol, arterial pressure and cigarette smoking in the Swiss population: the MONICA project]
Insights
High cholesterol is the most prevalent risk factor for coronary heart disease in Switzerland. Elevated blood pressure and smoking are also common, particularly in younger adults and the Tessin region.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular epidemiology
- Public health surveillance
- Risk factor assessment
Context:
- Switzerland's participation in the WHO's MONICA multicenter study.
- First risk factor survey in Vaud, Fribourg, and Tessin cantons.
- Representative population sample aged 25-74 years.
Purpose:
- To assess the prevalence of key coronary heart disease risk factors.
- To establish baseline data for cardiovascular disease trends.
- To inform public health strategies in Switzerland.
Summary:
- Elevated plasma cholesterol (> 6.7 mmol/l) is the most common risk factor.
- Hypertension affects approximately 13% of men and 10% of women, increasing with age.
- About one-third of individuals aged 25-45 years are regular cigarette smokers.
Impact:
- Highlights the significant burden of modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease in Switzerland.
- Provides crucial data for targeted prevention and intervention programs.
- Informs national and regional health policies to reduce cardiovascular disease incidence.
Abstract:
Elevated plasma cholesterol, high blood pressure and cigarette smoking are three major risk factors for coronary heart disease. Within the framework of Switzerland's participation in the multicenter study MONICA (MONItoring of trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease), proposed by the WHO, a first risk factor survey was conducted in a representative sample of the population (25-74 years) of two reporting units (cantons of Vaud and Fribourg, canton of Tessin). A high blood cholesterol level (greater than 6,7 mmol/l) is the most common risk factor for coronary heart disease among the studied population. Among men, about 13% have elevated blood pressure, the proportion being about one in ten among women; these proportions increase with age and are slightly above these values in Tessin. Cigarette smoking is still a common behavior; between 25 and 45 years one third of the population (male and female) regularly smoke cigarettes.