BACKGROUND: National representative health surveys for Germany were conducted for the first time in 1984/85 and again in 1987/88 and 1990/91. METHODS: Data from these three independent population samples (ages 25-69 years) are used to describe national trends in cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, national cardiovascular disease mortality rates during this time period are presented. RESULTS: A net rise in median total serum cholesterol level of 0.17 mmol/liter (6.6 mg/dl) for men and 0.08 mmol/liter (3.1 mg/dl) for women was observed. Also observed was an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol of 0.04 mmol/liter (1.5 mg/dl) for men and of 0.09 mmol/liter (3.5 mg/dl) for women. This resulted in a favorable increase in the HDL/total cholesterol quotient. There were no statistically significant changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with the exception of a net increase of 2 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure for women. A net rise of 0.3 kg/m2 for men and 0.4 kg/m2 for women in body mass index was observed. The prevalence of male smokers declined during the observed period while the prevalence of female smokers increased. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the measured risk factors increased in both sexes during the study period. This is not reflected in cardiovascular mortality, which has shown a steady downward trend for more than 20 years.
BACKGROUND: National representative health surveys for Germany were conducted for the first time in 1984/85 and again in 1987/88 and 1990/91. METHODS: Data from these three independent population samples (ages 25-69 years) are used to describe national trends in cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, national cardiovascular disease mortality rates during this time period are presented. RESULTS: A net rise in median total serum cholesterol level of 0.17 mmol/liter (6.6 mg/dl) for men and 0.08 mmol/liter (3.1 mg/dl) for women was observed. Also observed was an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol of 0.04 mmol/liter (1.5 mg/dl) for men and of 0.09 mmol/liter (3.5 mg/dl) for women. This resulted in a favorable increase in the HDL/total cholesterol quotient. There were no statistically significant changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with the exception of a net increase of 2 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure for women. A net rise of 0.3 kg/m2 for men and 0.4 kg/m2 for women in body mass index was observed. The prevalence of male smokers declined during the observed period while the prevalence of female smokers increased. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the measured risk factors increased in both sexes during the study period. This is not reflected in cardiovascular mortality, which has shown a steady downward trend for more than 20 years.