[Results of a questionnaire study on coronary disease and its relation to electrocardiographic changes and respiratory symptoms in a North German population].

For purposes of a study conducted in the townships of Nordenham and Brake, a self-administered questionnaire was used to detect suspect cases of coronary heart disease (angina pectoris, suspected myocardial infarction). The inquiry revealed for "typical" and "atypical" (extended range of criteria) angina pectoris a percentage of 10.8 (N = 898) for males aged 30-64 and of 15.4 (N = 1207) for females. There were no essential differences by the place of residence of the test persons. The question for the presence of pain suggesting myocardial infarction was answered "yes" by an average 7.6% of men and 4.6% of women, with highest percentages for both sexes in Nordenham. In test persons whose answers in respect of the presence of angina pectoris were positive, the frequency of ECG signs of ischemia (Q and Q-S anomalies, ST-T changes) at rest exceeded those in persons who did not mention cardiac complaints by a factor of 1.8. Specific ECG changes were most frequently found in test persons suffering from angina pectoris and pain suggesting myocardial infarction. In persons suffering from angina pectoris, symptoms of chronic bronchitis were present twice as often as in those who had no cardiac complaint. Dyspnea occurred less often in cases of chronic bronchitis than those with coronary heart disease.