[Results of the Zirl prevention project]

A model for community health and social services was set up in 1979 in the village of Zirl, Tyrol. All persons entitled to a preventive medical examination, i.e. those aged 19 years and over, were invited to make an appointment with their general practitioner in 1979/80 and again in 1981/82. 737 people took part in the first examination, corresponding to 26.8% of those originally invited and 446 persons (13.2%) responded to the second invitation. 188 persons (76 men and 112 women) participated in both examinations. Means and standard deviation of plasma cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and uric acid, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure and weight are presented for those 188 persons who participated twice. A significant reduction in plasma cholesterol level in both men and women was observed at the second examination following nutritional counselling by the general practitioners concerned.