[The Brisighella study. I. Non-metabolic risk factors]

The Brisighella Study, an epidemiological observational investigation on coronary heart disease risk factors was performed in a little Emilia-Romagna town with agricultural background. At entry, in 1972, 1,491 males and 1,448 females were enrolled from the residents of the inner part of the town. The participation response was very high (93%). In this paper the smoking habits and physical activity are reported. The prevalence of smoking habits was 51.8% in males, quiet different from the female group (24.5%). Heavy smokers were more frequently observed in young people, than in the oldest female groups. The physical activity mean levels were very low both in males and in females and the prevalence of heavy physical activity during leisure time was very low, especially in the woman.