Risk factors for coronary heart disease in middle-aged men in Crete in 1982.

Risk factors for coronary heart disease were studied in healthy middle-aged Cretan men in order to compare them with the middle-aged men of a previous generation studied in 1960 as the Cretan cohort of the Seven Countries Study (1960). In the present cohort mean values for total cholesterol were 5.48 mmol/L, for HDL-cholesterol 1.26 mmol/L, for triglycerides 1.41 mmol/L, for systolic blood pressure 128 mmHg, and for diastolic blood pressure 77 mmHg. Serum cholesterol was higher and blood pressure slightly lower than the values observed in 1960. However, it is uncertain whether these changes were real or caused by changes in methodology. The mean body mass index has increased from 22.6 in 1960 to 26.9 kg/m2 in 1982, due to an increase in fatness. The percentage of smokers had increased from 57.4% to 74.1%. Upon multiple regression analysis the body mass index, the subscapular to triceps skinfold ratio and smoking were negatively and independently related with HDL-cholesterol. Body mass index correlated positively with serum triglycerides. Although the incidence of coronary heart disease is still low in Crete, it is concluded that there is nothing in the risk profile of these middle-aged men to suggest that they are at a low risk for coronary heart disease.