Knowledge and attitudes towards hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in a population of southern Germany: results from a population survey in the Augsburg area.

The survey was conducted to assess knowledge and attitudes of a population in Southern Germany towards hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. A questionnaire, mailed to a random sample of 2000 citizens of the Augsburg area between 25 and 74 years of age, was responded by 67%. Knowledge about determinants and complications of hypertension or hypercholesterolemia was considerably high. Major deficiencies were found in knowledge about personal values and recommended definitions of the two risk factors. Fifty eight percent claimed to know their personal blood pressure value, but merely 14% reported to know their personal blood cholesterol value. Just 21% were able to give the correct definition of hypertension and 10% defined hypercholesterolemia correctly. People had more trust in the effect of lowering high blood pressure (54%) to prevent heart disease than in the effect of lowering high blood cholesterol (43%). Sixty percent claimed to take some kind of actions to control their blood pressure and blood cholesterol.