Risk factors for coronary heart disease in New Zealand and Sweden: Dunedin and Uppsala compared.
OBJECTIVE
to compare men and women over the age of 35 years in Dunedin (New Zealand) and Uppsala (Sweden) in respect of anthropometric values, dietary habits and certain coronary heart disease risk factors in view of known differences in coronary mortality between the two countries.


METHODS
one hundred and ninety-five Dunedin and 94 Uppsala residents were chosen randomly from the respective populations, in the former city by electoral roll, in the latter by use of unique personal number. Measurements of height, weight, waist/hip ratio, blood pressure, blood lipids were made and dietary and smoking habits assessed.


RESULTS
the Swedes were taller and leaner than the New Zealanders. Blood pressure and smoking habits were not significantly different but total blood cholesterol levels were lower in Uppsala men and women. Blood triglycerides were higher in Dunedin women but high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels tended to be lower in men and women in Uppsala.


CONCLUSIONS
it was found by analysis of variance that the blood lipid level differences between the two populations could be explained by body mass index. Correction of lipid values for the waist/hip ratio partly explained the higher cholesterol values in Dunedin but diet differences may also have been contributory. The differences in coronary mortality between the population of New Zealand and Sweden are compatible with the view that our blood cholesterol findings reflect the different levels of risk.
Nye
E R
ER
University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Lithell
H
H
Mann
J I
JI
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality*; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol