CHANGE IN CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS DURING A 10-YEAR COMMUNITY INTERVENTION PROGRAM

The study describes changes in cardiovascular risk factors during 10 y ears of a community intervention program conducted in a rural area in Central Italy. Two areas were involved, one for treatment and one for reference. In 1983-84, 739 men and 859 women in the treatment area and 942 men and 1045 women in the control area, aged 20-69 years, were sc reened; total and HDL cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressu re, fasting blood glucose, smoking habit, weight and height were measu red. Between 1983 and 1993 several intervention activities based on co mmunity medicine were carried out in the treatment area. They were bas ed on interaction with the local socio-sanitary institutions and schoo l system in order to influence individual persons, small groups and en tire community. Major effort was addressed to mass health education, n utrition education, antismoking-propaganda and detection and treatment of hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia.