The relative importance of the major risk factors in atherosclerotic and other diseases.

Examination of results from the Framingham study shows considerable disparity between the various clinical conditions which are grouped together as atherosclerotic diseases in their relationship to systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol level and cigarette smoking. The outstanding features are the dominance of blood pressure in cerebral conditions and the apparent unimportance of smoking in angina pectoris. Analysis of results from the National Co-operative Pooling Project shows that up to 70% of cardiac conditions in this category may be related to these three risk factors with each being of approximately equal importance. Further evidence suggesting that these factors are of greater importance than is commonly realised for non-cardiovascular deaths has been derived from results in the Chicago Peoples Gas Company Study. Though not conclusive, it is hoped that this analysis adds perspective to considerations of pathogenesis and prevention.