[Cardiovascular risk factors in patients over 65-years of age in Germany. Results of the STEPHY Study (Starnberg Trial on Epidemiology of Parkinsonism and Hypertension in the Elderly)].

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the current cardiovascular risk factor profile including data on treatment of a representative population over the age of 65 in Germany. From a total of 1190 inhabitants > or = 65 years living in two Bavarian villages near Munich, 982 could be visited at home ("door-to-door" survey), where a questionnaire and the measurement section were performed (response rate 82.5%). Blood pressure was measured three times in the sitting position with a standard sphygmomanometer, ("actual") hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure > or = 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure > or = 95 mm Hg or effective antihypertensive treatment. Obesity was defined as body mass index > or = 27.8 kg/m2 for men or > or = 27.3 kg/m2 for women, hypercholesterolemia as total cholesterol > or = 250 mg/dl (6.5 mmol/l), diabetes as fasting serum glucose > 120 mg/dl, glucosuria or treatment with insulin or oral antidiabetics. With a prevalence of 53% hypertension was the leading risk factor, followed by obesity with 35% and hypercholesterolemia with 21%; smoking and diabetes were observed in < 10%. Hypertension and obesity tended to be more prevalent in women, diabetes in men; hypercholesterolemia was significantly more prevalent in women. While the prevalence of hypertension increased up to the age groups "75-79 years" in men and "80-84 years" in women, there was a constant decrease with age for obesity, hypercholesterolemia and smoking. Three-quarters of the participants showed a minimum of one cardiovascular risk factor, the risk factor combination "hypertension/hypercholesterolemia/smoking" was observed however only in 1%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)