Thirty Years of Epidemiological Studies of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Latvia: Why are they Needed?

The present review is designed to provide insight into population-based investigations of cardiovascular risk factors in Latvia. Most of them represent urban, rural and mixed populations. The results are age-standardised using the European Standard Population. All of the studies confirm a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors with wide differences across the studies. The differences are not consistent or regular and some of the underlying reasons are discussed. Analysis of the previous studies justifies the need for a nationwide cross-sectional epidemiological study, which in a small country can be carried out in compliance with all the requirements for a population-based epidemiological study.