The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of cardiovascular disease and risk factors associated in patients hospitalised in coronary care units at Military Hospital, Tunis, over the period 1994-1998. The clinical features of 3513 patients (2389 men and 1124 women) on hospital admission were analysed. 47.3% of patients were hospitalised for coronary disease, 12.5% for valvular heart disease, 5.2% for cardiomyopathy, 16.2% for arrhythmia and conduction disturbance, 6.4% for hypertension and 12.2% for other pathologies. With this risk factor profile Tunisia has to implement a national strategy of primary prevention and heart heath promotion in addition to the efforts recently made in secondary prevention of some chronic disease such as hypertension and diabetes.