Follow-up of mass screening for coronary risk factors in 1817 adults.

The prevalence of coronary risk factors was assessed in 1,817 asymptomatic adults in Long Beach, California, at the beginning and end of a 10-11 month interval. The risk factors evaluated were hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, smoking, hyperglycemia, and marked obesity. The results of the tests were sent to the participants and to their physicians. An educational program aimed at reducing coronary risk factors was offered to the first 1,250 persons screened. Eight hundred and seventy-two of those 1,250 allocated to the education group returned for a second screening. The prevalence of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 coronary risk factors did not change significantly between the two screens in either the total group of 1,817 adults or in the 872 adults in the educational program. The Long Beach Heart Association mass screening program for coronary risk factors was ineffective in reducing the number of coronary risk factors.