[Cardiovascular risk factors in participants of screening procedures in the framework of the Frankfurter Health Days 1990--comparison with representative screenings].

During the public information programme, "Frankfurter Gesundheitstage" 1990 (Frankfurt Days for Health), organised by the Frankfurt Public Health Office, informations on healthy lifestyle and prevention of diseases were available, as well as a screening programme for cardiovascular diseases. 1,875 persons took part in that screening programme. Their total cholesterol, blood pressure and body weight were measured; they were asked about their age and body weight, activities in sports, smoking behaviour, medications, and their personal and family history for cardiovascular diseases. After accounting for sex and age, the results were compared with the representative epidemiological data of the DHP-Surveys, as well as other representative data of Germany. Body mass index was lower than expected; the heavily obese underrepresented. Mean of serum-cholesterol and blood pressure were comparable with the DHP-Survey, as well as the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia. The prevalence of hypertension was less than expected. Smokers were underrepresented; in women aged greater than 40 years the prevalence of smoking did not differ from the representative data, and in women aged 30-50 years the prevalence of heavy smokers was much higher than expected. Our data are not representative: participation was voluntary, and it may be supposed that especially people who take care of their health and thus may exhibit less risk factors than others took part in the programme. Direct conclusions from our data on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors of the Frankfurt population are hence not possible. It may be speculated, however, that the extremely high lung cancer mortality of women in Frankfurt can be explained by the high prevalence of heavily smoking women.