English summary: CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTOR CHANGES IN THE FINRISK STUDY FROM 1982 TO 2007

Cardiovascular risk factors have been studied with population-based surveys at five year-intervals in Finland since 1972. The first survey was related to the North Karelia Project. From 1982 to 1992 the surveys were part of the WHO MONICA study, and from 1992 the surveys have been called The National FINRISK Study. The surveys have been carried out in five different geographical areas. Random samples of the 25-64-year-old population, stratified according to sex, 10-year age group and area, were selected from the National Population Information System. Overall, serum cholesterol levels have declined since 1982. There was a leveling-off period between 1997 and 2002, but between 2002 and 2007 serum cholesterol declined again in all areas by about 5%. Saturated fat intake followed the same pattern. Since 1982 saturated fats have declined from 20% of energy intake to 12-13%. Blood pressure has declined since 1982 but the decline has stopped during the past five years, most likely due to increasing obesity and alcohol consumption. Smoking in men has declined since 1982, and now for the first time a statistically significant decline in smoking was also observed in women. In logistic regression analyses, the risk factor changes predicted a 60% decline in coronary heart disease mortality. In the national mortality statistics, the actually observed decline in cardiovascular disease mortality was 80% in persons aged 35 to 64 years.