[Calculating coronary risk for patients included in the Preventive Activities and Health Promotion Program]

To calculate coronary risk (CR), or the probability of suffering a "coronary event" within five years, for patients between 35 and 65 included in the Preventive Activities and Health Promotion Programme (PAHPP).

A descriptive crossover study.

Manises Health Centre, Valencia.

All the patients between 35 and 65 included in the PAHPP, 431 in all, were selected. For the coronary risk calculation the coefficients and constants of the Dundee Coronary Risk-Disk were used, the variables being gender, systolic arterial pressure, the number of cigarettes and overall cholesterol.

Average CR was 5.1% (CI = 4.7-5.4) "coronary events" in five years. CR was less (p = 0.01) in patients aged between 55 and 65. The risk factors (tobacco dependency, arterial Hypertension and Hypercholesterolaemia) were presented in association in 37.7% of cases. The highest CR was found when the three risk factors were presented in association (CR = 14%), when tobacco dependency was associated with hypercholesterolaemia (CR = 10.4%) or with arterial hypertension (CR = 6.4%).

CR can be calculated on the basis of data obtained by PAHPP: The risk factors are frequently presented in association and therefore require multifactorial vision for a correct assessment. Tobacco dependency is the factor which, whether by itself or in association, has most impact on the determination of modifiable CR.