title: [Regional differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in men and women in Germany].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  More than half of all cardiovascular diseases are caused by eight, mostly preventable risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In view of the considerable differences in the prevalence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases between the 16 German federal states, the regional distribution of cardiovascular risk factors was analyzed stratified for men and women, using population-based data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pooled data (n = 62,606) from the national, telephone health surveys "German Health Update" from 2009, 2010 and 2012 were used to estimate the prevalence of physical inactivity, risky alcohol consumption, smoking, low fruit and vegetable consumption, obesity and diagnosed hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia and the accumulated number of risk factors stratified for men and women in the federal states. Furthermore, we analyzed the influence of age and social status on prevalence differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the national level, 36.0% of men and 26.6% of women had three or more risk factors. Large differences between men and women were found for risky alcohol consumption (32.8% versus 21.7%), low fruit and vegetable consumption (20.6% versus 10.4%) and current smoking (32.6% versus 24.9%). The prevalence of all eight risk factors differed considerably between federal states. The highest prevalence of physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension and diabetes in both sexes as well as risky alcohol consumption in men were observed in the Eastern federal states (except for Berlin). Sachsen-Anhalt was the only federal state with the highest prevalence for two risk factors. Current smoking was most prevalent in the three federal city states Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen. Saarland had the highest prevalence of low fruit and vegetable consumption in both sexes. Regional differences remained after adjustment for age and social status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is evidence for regional differences in cardiovascular risk factor levels in Germany that resemble variations in the prevalence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases between federal states with a more unfavorable situation in the East (except for Berlin). Overall, this study shows a considerable need for the prevention of mostly modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in men and women in Germany.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Postfach 650261, 13302, Berlin, Deutschland. diederichsc@rki.de.|partner site Berlin, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Deutschland. diederichsc@rki.de.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diederichs
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Postfach 650261, 13302, Berlin, Deutschland.|partner site Berlin, DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Hannelore
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neuhauser
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Postfach 650261, 13302, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Postfach 650261, 13302, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Postfach 650261, 13302, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mensink
authors.affiliation: Institut für Sozialmedizin, Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsökonomie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dornquast
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Postfach 650261, 13302, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Christin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heidemann
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Postfach 650261, 13302, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scheidt-Nave
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Gesundheitsmonitoring, Robert Koch-Institut, Postfach 650261, 13302, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000401:mortality*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000401:mortality*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000401:mortality*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes; Hypertension; Regional differences; Risk factors