Editorial

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Abstract
Five studies on middle-aged men in the U.S., covering 2 to 13 years of follow-up show an annual incidence of about 1% new cases of coronary heart disease (CHD). Among many, characteristics studied before clinical appearance of the disease, 3 have predictive value for future risk. Overweight is associated with increased risk but this is relatively unimportant except among the most extremely overweight men. Elevated blood pressure is more significant but this again is truly important only among the few men who have definite hypertension. The concentration of cholesterol in the blood serum is most significant. In all studies the men in the upper half of the cholesterol distribution prove to have about 3 times the risk of those in the lower half. These findings are in conformity with the results of many studies on the prevalence of CHD in populations. All results suggest but do not prove that control of blood cholesterol and hypertension may have importance for prevention of coronary heart disease.