Abstract
BackgroundControl of modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors has substantially reduced CVD mortality, but risk factor levels in populations may change and need continuous monitoring. This study aims to provide current estimates of the prevalence of these risk factors in Germany according to sex and history of coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke.MethodsThe analyses were based on data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1; age 40–79 years, n = 5101), which is a cross-sectional population-based examination survey. CVD risk factors were defined according to recommendations in the European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice 2012.ResultsThe mean age was 57 years and 52 % were female; 493 participants had prior CHD and 163 participants a prior stroke. The overall prevalence of behavioural risk factors ranged from 17.9 % for high risk alcohol consumption to 90 % for low vegetable intake. Blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg was found in 21 % and 69 % had total cholesterol ≥ 5.0 mmol/l. Only 16 % met the targets for five behavioural factors combined (smoking, physical activity, fruit intake, alcohol intake and obesity), 13 % of those with and 16 % of those without CHD or stroke. The prevalences of most behavioural risk factors were higher among men compared to women.ConclusionsThere is a high prevention potential from modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in the general population aged 40–79 years in Germany and among those with prior CHD or stroke. Risk factors are often co-occurring, are interrelated and require combined educational, behavioral, medical and policy approaches.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1929-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Control of modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors has substantially reduced CVD mortality, but risk factor levels in populations may change and need continuous monitoring
For analysis of behavioural risk factor combinations, we considered five categories represented by one indicator each: daily smoking, physical activity 10 g/day in women or >20 g/day in men, and Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2
The overall prevalence of behavioral risk factors ranged from 18 % for high risk alcohol consumption and 20 % for daily smoking to 82 % for low physical activity and 90 % for low vegetable intake
Summary
Control of modifiable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors has substantially reduced CVD mortality, but risk factor levels in populations may change and need continuous monitoring. The European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice 2012 (ESC 2012) [3] made the following key recommendations to lower CVD risk: quit smoking, increase physical activity, eat a healthy diet, limit alcohol consumption, reduce body weight, reduce blood pressure (BP) and control blood. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to contribute to the debate on CVD prevention by providing up-to-date estimates of CVD risk factor proportions of the principal modifiable CVD risk factors in adults aged 40–79 years in Germany with data from the nationwide population-based. The study presents risk factor prevalences among persons with and without prior coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke
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