[Trends in selected biological risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in the Danish MONICA population 1982-1992].
BACKGROUND
The incidence rate of a first myocardial infarction declined 3-5% annually in the Danish WHO MONICA population in the period from 1982 to 1991. The aim of this study was to investigate whether levels of the most commonly considered biological traits associated with cardiovascular risk have changed in the Danish MONICA population during this period.


METHODS
Data from 6,695 men and women of 30, 40, 50 and 60 years of age, examined in the Danish WHO MONICA surveys in 1982-1984, 1986-1987, and 1991-1992, were analysed to estimate temporal trends in body height and weight, blood pressure, and serum total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride.


RESULTS
Body height increased by 0.1% per year and the body mass index by 0.4% per year in women. The diastolic blood pressure increased 0.4% per year in women and 0.6% per year in 60-year-old men. HDL cholesterol declined 0.4% per year. Body mass indices in men, diastolic blood pressures in men < 60 years of age, systolic blood pressures, total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride did not change.


CONCLUSIONS
The levels of biological risk factors in the Danish WHO MONICA study population did not show trends during the 1980s that contribute to explain the declining incidence of myocardial infarction in the population.
Gerdes
L U
LU
Københavns Amts Center for Sygdomsforebyggelse, Glostrup, Statens Institut for Folkesundhed, København. ulrik.gerdes@dadlnet.dk
Brønnum-Hansen
H
H
Madsen
M
M
Borch-Johnsen
K
K
Jørgensen
T
T
Sjøl
A
A
Schroll
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D002784:Cholesterol