CHANGES IN TOTAL SERUM-CHOLESTEROL AND OTHER RISK-FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE IN JAPAN, 1980-1989

To monitor recent changes in Japan in diet and risk factors for cardio vascular disease (CVD), in the light of the decline on coronary heart disease, total serum cholesterol levels and other risk factors were co mpared between two nationwide health surveys in 1980 and 1989 conducte d in the same population as the annual National Nutrition Surveys, Bet ween 1980 and 1989, age-adjusted total serum cholesterol levels increa sed from 4.84 to 5.22 for men and from 4.91 to 5.24 mmol/l for women. Prevalence of age-adjusted hypercholesterolaemia of greater than or eq ual to 5.68 mmol/l (220 mg/dl) increased from 15.8% to 29.4% for men a nd from 18.4% to 30.6% for women. Decline in blood pressure was observ ed for both sexes. Prevalence of smoking decreased from 64.7% to 58.7% in men while prevalence in women remained low (from 10.1 to 9.9%). Co nsiderable increases in total serum cholesterol levels do not offer an explanation of the recent decline in mortality from coronary heart di sease in Japan. This may, in part, be related to a decline in blood pr essure levels.