NATIONAL TRENDS IN RISK-FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE IN GERMANY

Background. National representative health surveys for Germany were co nducted for the first time in 1984/85 and again in 1987/88 and 1990/91 . Methods. Data from these three independent population samples (ages 25-69 years) are used to describe national trends in cardiovascular ri sk factors. In addition, national cardiovascular disease mortality rat es during this time period are presented. Results. A net rise in media n total serum cholesterol level of 0.17 mmol/liter (6.6 mg/dl) for men and 0.08 mmol/liter (3.1 mg/dl) for women was observed. Also observed was an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol of 0.04 mmol/liter (1.5 mg/dl) for men and of 0.09 mmol/liter (3.5 mg/dl) for women. This resulted in a favorable increase in the HDL/total cholest erol quotient. There were no statistically significant changes in syst olic and diastolic blood pressure, with the exception of a net increas e of 2 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure for women. A net rise of 0.3 k g/m(2) for men and 0.4 kg/m(2) for women in body mass index was observ ed. The prevalence of male smokers declined during the observed period while the prevalence of female smokers increased. Conclusions. Most o f the measured risk factors increased in both sexes during the study p eriod. This is not reflected in cardiovascular mortality, which has sh own a steady downward trend for more than 20 years. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.