Prevention of cardiovascular disease within the primary health care system: Feasibility of a prevention programme within the Sollentuna primary health care catchment area

Abstract

Objective - To integrate prevention of cardiovascular disease within the primary health care.

Design - A prevention programme which combines population and individual high-risk strategy.

Setting - The Primary Health Care in Sollentuna, Stockholm, Sweden.

Main outcome measure - Characteristics of, and risk factor prevalence among, persons registered in the prevention programme.

Results - During the first year more than 2000 persons, representing every tenth visitor and 6% of the population aged 15–60 years, were registered in the prevention programme. 90% were ⩽60 years and 62% were women. A large proportion (70%) had risk factors that required advice, treatment, and follow up. 24% of the men and 27% of the women were smokers, 68% and 62% respectively, had serum cholesterol ⩾5.2 mmol/1, and 33% and 22% had a diastolic blood pressure ⩾90 mmHg.

Conclusion - The present study implies that it is possible to integrate a large scale prevention programme in the existing primary health care organization. The prevalence of risk factors in those who enter the prevention programme is high, which places great demands for treatment and follow up.

Key Words:

• prevention
• cardiovascular disease
• primary health care