A STUDY OF MEN AGED 33-42 IN HABO, SWEDEN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS

An intervention study of men living in the Community of Habo in southw estern Sweden has been carried out. All men aged 33-42 and living in t he community were invited. Altogether 652 men participated. The study included a questionnaire, an interview made by a nurse, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, measurements of respirator y function and work performance capacity, and blood sampling for chemi cal analyses. The participation rate was high, 86.1%, after one mail i nvitation even considering the fact that two reminders were sent. Most of the non-participants had recently been in contact with the health care organisation, either because they were high-consumers of health c are, or because they had attended a health examination at work. A heal th profile was worked out comprising 11 different potential risk facto rs for coronary heart disease. This health profile turned out to be a useful educational tool when discussing the results of the examination with the participants. Risk points were given according to certain pr edetermined criteria. The distribution of risk factors was similar in the different ages studied. Most of the participants had at least one risk factor as defined, but many of them had two or more risk factors.