aged 40–79 years in Germany Results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1)

Cardiovascular diseases are still the most common cause of death in Germany. In recent years, however, a clear reduction in the mortality rates due to cardiovascu-lar diseases (ICD-10: I00-I99) can be not-ed [1]. A decrease in mortality due to cor-onary heart disease (CHD) is the main cause for this development [2]. Parallel trends can be observed in numerous oth-er high-income countries and are mainly explained by a reduction in the prevalence of classical risk factors—hypertension, hy-percholesterolemia and smoking—as well as by improved therapeutic options in the treatment of acute myocardial infarctio