THE RYDE HEART DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM: ONE‐YEAR FOLLOW‐UP OF A CONTROLLED TRIAL TO LOWER CORONARY RISK FACTORS IN SELF‐SELECTED EMPLOYEES BY SCREENING AND INTERVENTION

Summary A controlled intervention trial was set up in 1976 to evaluate a program to lower risk factors for coronary heart disease. The 3,401 persons who attended a voluntary screening program at their place of work, became the subjects. All subjects in the treatment group were given their results; those with a high blood pressure reading were referred to their doctor, while those with increases in other risk factor levels were offered educational group programs and literature. For control subjects, the only intervention was the sending of. screening results, with advice to consult a doctor, for the 10 per cent at highest risk. Repeat screening after one year showed that similar changes in risk factor levels had occurred in both the treatment and the control groups, although changes in blood pressure favoured the control group. This program of screening and intervention had little effect on the level of coronary disease risk factors.