[Cardiovascular risk factors: comparison of a Hungarian community with Germany]

The Hungarian cardiovascular mortality statistics are very unfavourable. We performed a screening programme to establish risk factors for coronary heart disease in Méhkerék, a rural community of 2400 inhabitants in the country of Békés, Hungary. 778 of the adults participated and the data were evaluated. The risk factor profile was compared with results obtained in western Europe (Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (PROCAM) Study in Germany). The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus was similar in Hungary and Germany. In all female age groups smoking was less common in Hungary, in men between 35 and 44 years of age smoking was more frequent. Total serum cholesterol levels were comparable in men; in three age groups of the women the cholesterol concentration was even lower in the Hungarian community than in Germany. The most striking difference was observed in the body mass index where, with the exception of 25-34 year old males, significantly higher values were measured in both men and women in Méhkerék. The high incidence of obesity is related to nutritional factors and especially, the excessive intake of saturated lipids of animal origin. In the Hungarian village most households cook exclusively with animal fat and, in addition, the consumption of meat with a high content of fat (bacon, sausages) is extremely popular. It is concluded that, in addition to socioeconomic factors in post-communist societies, nutritional factors might explain the high cardiovascular mortality in Hungary. Consequently, interventions aimed at a modification of dietary habits and style of living might improve the cardiovascular risk profile.