[An epidemiological survey of cardiovascular disease risk factors in 18-year-old males during their medical check-up at an Army recruiting center in the province of Verona].

Between January and December 1992 an epidemiological survey on the risk factors for cardiovascular disease in eighteen-year old boys during call-up has been performed in Verona. The study involved 3426 subjects: 100% of the boys coming from the metropolitan area and 65% of those coming from the non-metropolitan areas. A family history of hypertension was found in 9.54% of the subjects and a family history of myocardial infarction or sudden death was found in 4.54% of the subjects. 0.18% of the population reported diabetes and 2% hypertension. Prevalence of smoke addiction was 39.1% and in this group 17.54% smoked > or = 20 cigarettes/day. Prevalence of smoke addiction was significantly greater in the boys having one or both smoking parents (p < 0.001), in working people in respect to students (p < 0.001), in boys from metropolitan in respect to those from non-metropolitan areas (p = 0.033), and among those not practising sport activity (p < 0.001). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 130.16 +/- 13/74.48 +/- 9 mm Hg and 90th percentile was 149/87 mm Hg. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower in boys from metropolitan in respect to those from non-metropolitan areas and in smokers in respect to non smokers. A body mass index > or = 30 was found in 3.04% of the subjects, the body mass index being directly related to systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001). Total cholesterol performed on a voluntary basis from capillary blood samples by Reflotron System was determined in 80.06% of the subjects. Mean blood cholesterol was 139.1 +/- 28 mg/dL and 90th percentile's value was 182 mg/dL. Mean blood cholesterol was significantly lower in non-metropolitan in respect to metropolitan areas (p = 0.033). 44.48% of the subjects had one or more risk factors, 5.22% had two risk factors and 0.67% three or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This study shows that 1) in this population of young people a significant part is exposed to one or more cardiovascular risk factors; 2) social and environmental factors affect, sometimes deeply, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors; 3) The visit for call-up appears to be important in the setting-up of a strategy of primary prevention for cardiovascular disease.