Population screening on a population level in Leipzig within the scope of the Bavarian cholesterol project]

Cholesterol determinations of 15.391 inhabitants of Leipzig were carried out in November 1990 within the Bavarian Cholesterol-Screening-Project. The aim of this screening on population basis was to identify individuals with elevated blood cholesterol levels as one of the risk factors of atherosclerosis. Capillary blood cholesterol was measured by means of the Reflotron dry-chemistry system (Boehringer, Mannheim). 27% of the inhabitants of Leipzig show cholesterol levels lower than 5.2 mmol/l as recommended by the European Society of Atherosclerosis Research. Furthermore the characteristic age dependence is seen. In comparison with the town Nürnberg lower mean cholesterol values were found in Leipzig.