CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE RISK-FACTORS AND DENTAL-CARIES IN ADOLESCENTS - EFFECT OF A PREVENTIVE PROGRAM IN NORTHERN SWEDEN (THE NORSJO PROJECT)

Since 1985 a 10 year prevention programme aiming to reduce cardiovascu lar diseases (CVD) has been running in the county of Vasterbotten in N orthern Sweden. The project started in Norsjo. The present investigati on is a study on dietary intake, medical CVD risk factors and dental c aries in five cross-sectional groups of 15-year-olds during 5 years (1 957-1991) of the ''Norsjo project''. Most of the measured medical and dietary variables followed a similar trend, i.e. a positive trend duri ng the first 3 years (1987-1989) and in the last 2 years (1990-1991) t he averages returned towards baseline values. Dental caries prevalence followed a similar trend. Parental educational level did not have a m ajor influence on diet or medical CVD risk factors, but higher caries scores were noted in adolescents with parents with ''low'' education c ompared with adolescents where the parents had higher educational leve ls. The results from the study also point to the fact that dental cari es prevalence together with body mass index may indicate adolescents w ith CVD risk factors at unfavourable levels. Dietary counselling by de ntal personnel to adolescents with high caries and moderate obesity ca n be of advantage in reducing caries risk, as well as risk for develop ment of CVD at higher ages.