A comprehensive community programme to control cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in North Karelia, Finland, was carried out during 1972-7. The central intermediate objective of the programme was to reduce the prevalence of smoking, the serum cholesterol concentration, and raised blood-pressure values among the population of the area. The effect was evaluated by examining independent representative population samples in 1972 and 1977 in both the county of North Karelia and a matched control county. Over 10 000 subjects were studied each time, the participation rate being around 90%. The decrease that occurred in the risk factors, especially in men, was in general greater in North Karelia compared with the control county. When a multiple logistic function was used for the three risk factors an overall mean net reduction of 17% among men and 12% among women was observed in the estimated risk for coronary heart disease in North Karelia. This community programme effectively reduced the levels of the three main risk factors for CVD in the population, and thus mortality and morbidity from CVD should fall. This is assessed in further studies.
Notes
Cites: Clin Chem. 1956 Oct;2(5):353-6813365118
Cites: Lancet. 1977 Jun 4;1(8023):1192-568285
Cites: Prev Med. 1978 Dec;7(4):539-49756003
Cites: Prev Med. 1978 Dec;7(4):464-75755998
Cites: World Health Stat Q. 1978;31(3):208-346726509
Cites: Acta Med Scand. 1978;204(5):381-8717058
Cites: Am J Epidemiol. 1978 Aug;108(2):103-11707471
Cites: J Community Health. 1977 Winter;3(2):100-14617630
Cites: Am J Public Health. 1974 Nov;64(11):1071-804411614
Cites: Int J Epidemiol. 1973 Summer;2(2):137-434777771
Cites: WHO Chron. 1973 Feb;27(2):55-84695971
Cites: Acta Med Scand. 1975 Mar;197(3):211-61124671