Background
: In recent years, the disease related with atherosclerosis, such as coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, are increasing with the change of diet and socioeconomic status among Koreans. Thus, we investigated the risk factors of atherosclerosis in persons who took medical examinations.

Methods : We studied on the prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors, such as smoking, lack of exercise, obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, high LDL-cholesterolemia, low HDL-cholesterolemia. The subjects were 4,396 persons(men 2458, women 1957) who took medical examinations in the period from June 1990 to June 1991 at Asan Medical Center. We used questionnaires designed for getting information on their exercise and smoking. We checked their height, weight and blood pressure. Blood sugar and serum lipids were measured after the subjects fasted for more than 12 hours. The indices of risk factors were defined as followings : obesity ; ≥120% of ideal body weight, hyperglycemia : fasting blood sugar ≥ 140mg/dl, hypertension : diastolic BP ≥ 90mmHg or systolic BP ≥ 140mmHg, hypercholesterolemia : serum cholesterol ≥ 240mg/dl, high LDL-C ≥ 160mg/dl, low HDL-C : <35mg/dl in men, <45mg/dl in women.

Results : Followings are the summary of the results. The prevalence of smoking is 41.2% (men 55.7%, women 20.8%) among subjects, lack of exercise 23.9%(men 25.5%, women 23.9%), obesity 17.5%(men 17.2%, women 22.7%), hyperention 5.9%(men 7.4%, women 5.7%), hyperglycemia 3.7%(men 5.4%, women 2.5%), hypercholesterolemia 10.4%(men 10.9%, women 9.8%), high LDL-cholesterolemia(men 8.6%, women 9.1%), low HDL-cholesterolemia 21.4%(men 13.4%, women 31.7%). The prevalence of lack of exercise, obesity, low HDL-cholesterolemia higher in women than men. Hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and high LDL-cholesterolemia increased with age.

Conclusion : Most of the risk factors of atherosclerosis except male gender, age, and genetic factors were potentially reversible. The prevalence of smoking, lack of exercise, obesity was very high in this study. Thus for prevention and management of atherosclerosis, we should educate people to modify life style. We hope that this study will provide the basic information for the future studies on the risk factors factors of atherosclerosis.