[Smoking and coronary heart disease]

Abstract

The importance of risk factors in the development of coronary heart disease was established in many studies. Elevated serum cholesterol, hypertension and cigarette smoking are the major factors beside age and sex. Independent from serum cholesterol and hypertension the average risk for the development of coronary heart disease in cigarette smoking men is one and a half of non smokers. In order of the importance of coronary heart disease for morbidity and mortality in Austria and the knowledge about the risk factors this disease is especially suitable for prophylaxis.