Da. Wood et al., BRITISH FAMILY HEART-STUDY - ITS DESIGN AND METHOD, AND PREVALENCE OFCARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS, British journal of general practice, 44(379), 1994, pp. 62-67
Aim. The aim of this paper is to describe the prevalence of cardiovasc
ular risk factors in families screened systematically by nurses in Bri
tish general practice, and in subgroups with reported hypertension, hy
percholesterolaemia, diabetes and coronary heart disease. Method. Twen
ty six general practices (13 intervention and 13 control practices) in
13 towns in England, Wales and Scotland were involved in a randomized
control trial. Randomly ordered invitations were sent for a family he
alth check to 4158 households (men aged 40-59 years and their partners
) registered with the 13 intervention practices. Results. One or more
adult members from 2373 households (57%) were screened; in 1477 visits
the selected man and his female partner attended of whom 98% were mar
ried. In all, 3850 individuals were screened (2246 men and 1604 women)
; 15% of men and women were in the predefined top quintile of the Brit
ish family heart study risk score. Twenty four per cent of men and 22%
of women smoked cigarettes and 62% of men and 44% of women were overw
eight (body mass index 25+). One third of men and one sixth of women w
ith no known history of high blood pressure had a diastolic blood pres
sure of 90+ mmHg. Among the 491 individuals with previously reported h
igh blood pressure 64% were not adequately controlled, having a diasto
lic blood pressure of 90+ mmHg, while 26% had diastolic blood pressure
of 100+ mmHg. Eighteen per cent of men and women with no known histor
y of a high cholesterol level had a random cholesterol level of 6.5+ m
mol l(-1). In the 173 people with a previously reported high cholester
ol level and who had their level measured over half had a cholesterol
level of 6.5+ mmol l(-1) and in 7% this level was 8.0+ mmol l(-1). One
per cent of men and 0.3% of women were newly identified as diabetic (
random glucose level of 10.0+ mmol l(-1)). In the 52 with previously d
iagnosed diabetes unsatisfactory control was found in 52% (random leve
l of 10.0+ mmol l(-1)). A total of 3034 men and women overall (79%) qu
alified for follow up for one or more risk factor; 1909 men (85%) and
1125 women (70%). Among the 139 with pre-existing coronary heart disea
se 119 (86%) had modifiable risk factors: 27% were cigarette smokers,
68% had a body mass index of 25+, 40% had diastolic hypertension, 29%
had hypercholesterolaemia and 19% had hyperglycaemia. Five per cent of
men and women were taking antihypertensive drugs, 0.3% cholesterol lo
wering drugs and 0.7% drugs for diabetes. Conclusion. There is conside
rable scope for primary and secondary prevention among families regist
ered with general practices, but whether nursing and medical intervent
ion can reduce The risk factors related to cardiovascular disease in t
his setting remains unknown.