Few studies have examined fibrinogen in Chinese populations in which the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is lower than that in the West. This study aimed to examine the relationship between fibrinogen and other CHD risk factors in Hong Kong Chinese. Fibrinogen was measured by the Clauss method in 1359 men and 1405 women aged 25-74 years, randomly selected from the Hong Kong population. Mean fibrinogen level increased with age, from 2.22 g/l in those aged 25-34 years to 2.76 g/l in 65-74 years in men, and from 2.42 to 2.94 g/l respectively in women. The most important factors associated with fibrinogen were age, obesity and blood lipid levels in both genders. In men, smoking was associated with higher fibrinogen levels and cessation of smoking with lower levels. Prospective studies are needed to examine the role of fibrinogen in CHD in Chinese and other Asian populations.