Coronary risk factors and excess mortality from all causes and specific causes.

Data from two Italian rural cohorts of the Seven Countries Study are used to examine the relationship between level at entry to the study of some coronary risk factors and subsequent mortality. The target follow-up period of 15 years after entry to the study is complete. Causes of death are classified according to standard criteria and age-adjusted rates are calculated. The analysis shows that blood pressure and smoking are risk factors that explain a substantial amount of total mortality, whereas serum cholesterol seems to be a specific risk factor for coronary mortality. The excess risks of death attributable to blood pressure, smoking, serum cholesterol and also the estimated risk of death are reported.