The primary prevention study
The Primary Prevention Trial in Goteborg is a multifactorial intervention programme on coronary heart disease, stroke incidence and total mortality. The study is administered by the Section for Preventive Cardiology, Institution of Medicine, University of Gothenburg.
The study started in 1970. The intervention group consisted of 10 004 men. Two control groups were of similar size. The participants were all men in Gothenburg born in 1915-1922 and 1924-1925.
The first examined group was men born in 1915 and the first screening was completed 1973 with those born in 1925. A second examination started in 1974 and was completed in early spring 1977, and the final examination was performed ten years after the first one, that is between 1980 and 1983. The participants were 47-55 years of age when the study started, and accordingly 57-65 years of age at the final examination. Participation rate at the first screening examination was 75% (n=7495). The intervention group and a 2% sample of the control group 1 received an illustrated postal questionnaire dealing with family history of heart disease and stroke, the subject's own heart symptoms, known hypertension, smoking habits, physical activity during work and leisure time, and stress. Subjects of the intervention group and the 2% sample of control group 1 were invited to a screening examination at which height, weight, total serum cholesterol, blood pressure, ECG, and some interview responses were recorded. In the control groups no further action was taken. Treatment of the risk factors of elevated serum cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and smoking was given for subjects in the intervention group. The whole intervention group was invited for a second examination. The effects of the intervention on risk factors were measured in all participants of the intervention group (n=7517), and in an 11% random sample of control group 1 (n=826) four years after they entered the study. Ten years after entry new 20% random samples of the intervention group and control group 1 were invited. Of these, 1473 in the intervention group and 1404 in control group 1 participated in the investigations.
Data from the intervention group are available from SND.
The purpose of the study was to:
1 - to analyse the extent to which it was possible to induce changes in risk factors in a randomly selected population sample of middle-aged Swedish men by means of a population-based intervention programme which could be managed by a limited number of physicians and paramedical personnel. 2 - to measure the effect of this intervention programme on the incidence of non-fatal and fatal myocardial infarction, stroke and the total death rate in the intervention group compared with two control groups also randomly selected from the general population.
Contact for data - Annika Rosengren
Opens in a new tabannika.rosengren@hjl.gu.se
Documentation files
Documentation files
Citation and access
Citation and access
Data access level:
Creator/Principal investigator(s):
- Annika Rosengren - University of Gothenburg - Department of Emergency and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Lars Wilhelmsen - University of Gothenburg - Department of Emergency and Cardiovascular Medicine
Research principal:
Data contains personal data:
No
Citation:
Language:
Method and outcome
Method and outcome
Unit of analysis:
Population:
Men born 1915-1922 och 1924-1925
Time method:
Study design:
- Experimental study
Sampling procedure:
Time period(s) investigated:
Description of the response rate/participation rate:
1970-1973 Variables: 152 Number of individuals/objects: 7495 Response rate/participation rate: 75% 1974-1977 Variables: 129 Number of individuals/object: 7122 Response rate/participation rate: 75% 1980-1983 Variables: 114 Number of individuals/object: 1465 Response rate/participation rate: 75%
Data format/data structure:
Data collection
Data collection
Description of the mode of collection:
Physical measurements and tests, and Self-administered questionnaire
Time period(s) for data collection:
1970 - 1973
Data collector:
- University of Gothenburg, Department of Emergency and Cardiovascular Medicine
Data collection - Physical measurements and tests
Data collection - Physical measurements and tests
Mode of collection:
Physical measurements and tests
Description of the mode of collection:
Physical measurements and tests, and Self-administered questionnaire
Time period(s) for data collection:
1974 - 1977
Data collector:
- University of Gothenburg, Department of Emergency and Cardiovascular Medicine
Source of the data:
- Population group
- Biological samples
Data collection
Data collection
Description of the mode of collection:
Physical measurements and tests, and Self-administered questionnaire
Time period(s) for data collection:
1980 - 1983
Data collector:
- University of Gothenburg, Department of Emergency and Cardiovascular Medicine
Geographic coverage
Geographic coverage
Geographic location:
Geographic description:
The municipality of Gothenburg
Lowest geographic unit:
Municipality
Administrative information
Administrative information
Responsible department/unit:
Department of Emergency and Cardiovascular Medicine
Topic and keywords
Topic and keywords
CESSDA Topic Classification:
Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2025:
Keywords:
Relations
Relations
Related research data:
Publications
Publications
Citation:
Wilhelmsen L, Berglund G, Elmfeldt D, et al. The multifactor primary prevention trial in Göteborg, Sweden. Eur Heart J 1986;7:279-88.
Citation:
Rosengren A, Fredén M, Hansson PO, Wilhelmsen L, Wedel H, Eriksson H. Psychosocial factors and venous thromboembolism: a long-term follow-up study of Swedish men. J Thromb Haemost 2008;6:558-64.
Citation:
Jood K, Jern C, Wilhelmsen L, Rosengren A. Body mass index in mid-life is associated with a first stroke in men: a prospective population study over 28 years. Stroke 2004;35:2764-9.
Citation:
Schaufelberger M, Rosengren A. Heart failure in different occupational classes in Sweden. Eur Heart J 2007;28:212-8.
Citation:
Adlerberth AM, Rosengren A, Wilhelmsen L. Diabetes and long-term risk of mortality from coronary and other causes in middle-aged Swedish men. A general population study. Diabetes Care. 1998 Apr;21(4):539-45.
Citation:
Molnár P, Stockfelt L, Barregard L, Sallsten G. Residential NOx exposure in a 35-year cohort study. Changes of exposure, and comparison with back extrapolation for historical exposure assessment. Atmospheric Environment 115 (2015) 62e69. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.05.055.
Citation:
Rosengren A, Skoog I, Gustafson D, Wilhelmsen L. Body mass index, other cardiovascular risk factors, and hospitalization for dementia. Arch Intern Med 2005;165:321-6.
Citation:
Almgren T, Persson B, Wilhelmsen L, Rosengren A, Andersson OK. Stroke and coronary heart disease in treated hypertension - a prospective cohort study over three decades. J Intern Med. 2005 Jun;257(6):496-502.
Citation:
Eriksson P, Wilhelmsen L, Rosengren A. Bundle-branch block in middle-aged men: risk of complications and death over 28 years. The Primary Prevention Study in Goteborg, Sweden. Eur Heart J 2005;26:2300-6.
Citation:
Rosengren A, Tibblin G, Wilhelmsen L. Self-perceived psychological stress and incidence of coronary artery disease in middle-aged men. Am J Cardiol 1991;68:1171-5.
Citation:
Stockfelt L, Andersson EM, Molnár P, Rosengren A, Wilhelmsen L, Sallsten G, Barregard L. Long term effects of residential NOx exposure on total and cause-specific mortality and incidence of myocardial infarction in a Swedish cohort. EnvironmentalResearch142(2015)197-206. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2015.06.045
