[Data on cholesterol level screening of patients with ischemic heart disease in the light of the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study]. / Ischaemiás szívbetegek szúróvizsgálati koleszterin adatai a Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study tükrében.

The authors carried out a coronary heart disease risk factor screening on 1240 people of two villages of Békés county, Hungary. The prevalence of coronary heart disease among the 969 people 35-70 years old was 12.0%, in the different age groups varied between 0.8 and 20.9%. This high prevalence could be explained by the high occurence of the different risk factors. The results of cholesterol levels were analysed according to that of Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study. From 35-70 years old screened people with coronary heart disease 77 had a cholesterol level between 5.5 and 8.0 mmol/l. In these patients with 20-40 mg daily dose of simvastatin during 5.4 years long treatment from 7 predicted coronary death 3, from 17 expected non fatal myocardial infarction 5, from 13 anticipated revascularisation procedures 5 would be preventable. The 5.4 years long treatment with 20 mg simvastatin calculated with the prices of July 1996 in Hungary would cost 292831 forints, from which 87847 has to be paid by the patient. If the decrease of hospitalization costs of the coronary heart disease patients treated with simvastatin is also taken into account, the drug treatment costs, according to the literature, could be reduced with additional 88%.

[Cardiovascular risk factors: comparison of a Hungarian community with Germany]. / Kardiovaskuläre Risikofaktoren: Vergleich einer ungarischen Gemeinde mit Deutschland.

The Hungarian cardiovascular mortality statistics are very unfavourable. We performed a screening programme to establish risk factors for coronary heart disease in Méhkerék, a rural community of 2400 inhabitants in the country of Békés, Hungary. 778 of the adults participated and the data were evaluated. The risk factor profile was compared with results obtained in western Europe (Prospective Cardiovascular Münster (PROCAM) Study in Germany). The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus was similar in Hungary and Germany. In all female age groups smoking was less common in Hungary, in men between 35 and 44 years of age smoking was more frequent. Total serum cholesterol levels were comparable in men; in three age groups of the women the cholesterol concentration was even lower in the Hungarian community than in Germany. The most striking difference was observed in the body mass index where, with the exception of 25-34 year old males, significantly higher values were measured in both men and women in Méhkerék. The high incidence of obesity is related to nutritional factors and especially, the excessive intake of saturated lipids of animal origin. In the Hungarian village most households cook exclusively with animal fat and, in addition, the consumption of meat with a high content of fat (bacon, sausages) is extremely popular. It is concluded that, in addition to socioeconomic factors in post-communist societies, nutritional factors might explain the high cardiovascular mortality in Hungary. Consequently, interventions aimed at a modification of dietary habits and style of living might improve the cardiovascular risk profile.

Personality examinations in individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Assessment of the question of the 'diabetic personality' in the literature is not completely unambiguous. For the first time in Hungary, personality examinations were performed in 53 young (average age 24.9 years) insulin-dependent patients; 20 young patients with ulcers served as controls. Three different psychological tests were carried out, and data were also obtained on the treatment, knowledge concerning the disease and way of life by means of questionnaires and interviews. On the basis of the results, it was concluded that there is no special 'diabetic personality'. Psycho-emotional factors exert an influence in all stages of the disease, in exactly the same way as in subjects with other chronic diseases. The need is emphasized for individual psychotherapy.