[Epidemiology of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia: results of a mass screening in the framework of "a week in Kiel" 1988].

A screening for total cholesterol levels and blood pressure was conducted in Kiel during the sailing competition 1988 following the suggestion of the American Health Foundation. During the ten days of the testing 2063 visitors were screened, aged 5 to 88 years. Two thirds of the participants had no idea about the connection between high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary heart disease. The percentage of subjects with normotonic blood pressure decreased from 98 to 63% by age. Concerning the cholesterol levels the percentage of subjects at moderate risk for coronary heart disease increased from 20 to 80% by age and beyond fifty years of age the persons had cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl. The total cholesterol levels increased by cigarette smoking. Our results demonstrate the need to improve the efforts of health education for lowering the cholesterol levels in the population, and thereby lead to a reduction in the morbidity and mortality of coronary artery disease.