[Coronary risk factors and their modification on the community level]

In 1977 a field survey of coronary risk factors was carried out on the inhabitants of the Tyrolean village Oberperfuss aged between 20 and 64 years. Height and weight were also measured. 295 men and 316 women, corresponding to 70 and 75% of the entire population participated in the baseline survey. We tried in a community orientated intervention program with the help of the general practitioners and a health education program to lower the three major risk factors. 43.5% of the men and 19.6% of the women were smokers. 11.6% were ex-smokers. After three years 93% of the original male smokers and 9.6% of the female smokers were abstinent. The rest showed a small, but not significant reduction in nicotine consumption.11.2% of the men and 14.9% of the women had a plasma cholesterol level of 280 mg% (7.24 mmol/l) or more. This group was subjected to dietary advice. After three years the average plasma cholesterol level of this group was 23% lower in men and 24% lower in women. The baseline survey showed a prevalence of hypertension defined as greater than or equal to 160 systolic and/or greater than or equal to 95 mmHg diastolic (greater than or equal to 21.3 kPa and/or greater than or equal to 12.7 kPa) of 278/1000 in men and 310/1000 in women. After repeated readings of the blood pressure of the originally hypertensive subjects the prevalence dropped in 1980 to 122/1000 in men and 209/1000 in women. In 1977, thanks to drug treatment, one sixth of the true hypertensive men and one third of the corresponding women were in the normotensive range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)