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. 1979 Nov 10;2(6199):1173–1178. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6199.1173

Changes in coronary risk factors during comprehensive five-year community programme to control cardiovascular diseases (North Karelia project).

P Puska, J Tuomilehto, J Salonen, L Neittaanmäki, J Maki, J Virtamo, A Nissinen, K Koskela, T Takalo
PMCID: PMC1597253  PMID: 519351

Abstract

A comprehensive community programme to control cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in North Karelia, Finland, was carried out during 1972-7. The central intermediate objective of the programme was to reduce the prevalence of smoking, the serum cholesterol concentration, and raised blood-pressure values among the population of the area. The effect was evaluated by examining independent representative population samples in 1972 and 1977 in both the county of North Karelia and a matched control county. Over 10 000 subjects were studied each time, the participation rate being around 90%. The decrease that occurred in the risk factors, especially in men, was in general greater in North Karelia compared with the control county. When a multiple logistic function was used for the three risk factors an overall mean net reduction of 17% among men and 12% among women was observed in the estimated risk for coronary heart disease in North Karelia. This community programme effectively reduced the levels of the three main risk factors for CVD in the population, and thus mortality and morbidity from CVD should fall. This is assessed in further studies.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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