[Self-assessment of vulnerability to illness by the Austrian population]

Results of a Cross-Sectional Study in 1995: The self-perceived threat of cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke, traffic accidents, diabetes mellitus, AIDS, Alzheimer's Disease and drug abuse was investigated in a survey among a representative sample of Austrians (aged > or = 15 years) in 1995. The most feared disease was cancer (41%), followed by traffic accidents (38%) and myocardial infarction (36%). The disease feared least was drug abuse (6%). Females feared cancer, stroke, diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease significantly more than males. A cluster analysis reveals that respondents who perceive a higher threat by the diseases have low levels of education and live in rural areas. The age distribution of persons who responded with "very threatening" corresponds well with the age-specific prevalence of the disease. Smoking habits, alcohol consumption and body-mass index have no influence on the self-perceived threat of the investigated diseases.