TRENDS IN CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN EAST-GERMANY - 3 INDEPENDENTPOPULATION STUDIES AS PART OF THE PROJECT MONICA EAST-GERMANY

Objective: To demonstrate trends in cardiovascular risk factors in the population of former East Germany. Patients and methods: As part of t he international World Health Organisation's MONICA project (''MONItor ing of Trends and Determinants of CArdiovascular Disease''), cross-sec tional studies of independent random samples were undertaken, during t hree periods between 1982 and 1994, among the 24-64 year age groups in the population of East Germany. Those examined were 8470 (1982 - 1984 ), 9533 (1987 - 1989) and 2330 (1991 - 1994) men and women aged 25-64 years living in 17 legions (until 1989) and three regions (since 1991) , respectively. Each person had standardized blood pressure measuremen ts, His/her weight and height were measured, a blood sample was taken, and each was given a standardized interview by trained personnel. Res ults: The prevalence of hypertension, ca. 30 % overall, was relatively high. There was, however, a tendency over time towards a reduced prev alence among the women, from 29 % to 25 % (P < 0.05). The proportion o f effectively treated hypertensives was clearly too low: 12 - 14% amon g men, 20 - 25 % among women. There was a slightly downward trend in t he frequency of hypercholesterolaemia (> 6.7 mmol/l), but it was stati stically significant only for women. The proportion of markedly overwe ight persons (body mass index greater than or equal to 30) was not sig nificantly reduced. The frequency of regular smokers decreased among m en from 41 % to 35 % (P < 0.05), while among women (especially those i n the younger age groups) there was a slight increase. Conclusions: De spite the known importance of risk factors, their prevalence was not s ignificantly changed in East Germany over a period about 10 years. Mor e effort and population-related primary prevention of coronary heart d isease will thus be required, particularly in view of the risk factors cigarette smoking and hypertension.