Knowledge about arterial hypertension in the Polish population: the WOBASZ study

Background: Insufficient knowledge on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and unawareness of CVD and their complications limit effectiveness of CVD prevention. Thus, monitoring knowledge regarding health issues is necessary in order to prepare prevention projects. Aim: To evaluate knowledge on hypertension (HT) in relation to gender, age, education level, personal HT status, and a family history of death due to CVD. Methods: A representative sample of the Polish population including 6977 men and 7792 women aged 20&#8211;74 years was studied in the WOBASZ study in 2003&#8211;2005. Data were collected using a questionnaire. We analysed how many respondents knew their blood pressure (BP) and classified it correctly, knew the upper limit of normal BP values (BPlim), and complications of untreated HT. Statistical analysis was performed using the &chi;2 test. Results: Overall, 51% of men and 56% of women reported they knew BPlim (p < 0.0001), but about 50% of them identified it within the normotensive range, 40% reported it at the level corresponding to stage I HT, and 8% of men and 6% of women even reported it as > 160/100 mm Hg. Fifty-nine percent of men and 69% women (p < 0.0001) reported being aware of their own BP, but only 72% of these men and 80% of these women classified it correctly. The most often mentioned HT complications were stroke (58% men and 69% women, p < 0.01) and myocardial infarction (60% and 65%, respectively, p < 0.01), and 32% of men and 23% of women did not know any complications of HT (p < 0.01). Older, more educated persons and those with HT or family history of death to CVD had greater knowledge on HT. Conclusions: Knowledge concerning HT is still insufficient in the Polish population, with women being more knowledgeable than men. Age, education level, HT status, and a family history of death due to CVD were significant independent predictors of knowledge level.Background: Insufficient knowledge on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and unawareness of CVD and their complications limit effectiveness of CVD prevention. Thus, monitoring knowledge regarding health issues is necessary in order to prepare prevention projects. Aim: To evaluate knowledge on hypertension (HT) in relation to gender, age, education level, personal HT status, and a family history of death due to CVD. Methods: A representative sample of the Polish population including 6977 men and 7792 women aged 20&#8211;74 years was studied in the WOBASZ study in 2003&#8211;2005. Data were collected using a questionnaire. We analysed how many respondents knew their blood pressure (BP) and classified it correctly, knew the upper limit of normal BP values (BPlim), and complications of untreated HT. Statistical analysis was performed using the &#967; 2 test. Results: Overall, 51% of men and 56% of women reported they knew BPlim (p < 0.0001), but about 50% of them identified it within the normotensive range, 40% reported it at the level corresponding to stage I HT, and 8% of men and 6% of women even reported it as > 160/100 mm Hg. Fifty-nine percent of men and 69% women (p < 0.0001) reported being aware of their own BP, but only 72% of these men and 80% of these women classified it correctly. The most often mentioned HT complications were stroke (58% men and 69% women, p < 0.01) and myocardial infarction (60% and 65%, respectively, p < 0.01), and 32% of men and 23% of women did not know any complications of HT (p < 0.01). Older, more educated persons and those with HT or family history of death to CVD had greater knowledge on HT. Conclusions: Knowledge concerning HT is still insufficient in the Polish population, with women being more knowledgeable than men. Age, education level, HT status, and a family history of death due to CVD were significant independent predictors of knowledge level

Cardiovascular diseases prevention in Poland - results of WOBASZ and WOBASZ II

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of morbidity and an important cause of disability and premature death in European countries. Current guidelines recommend prevention delivery by physicians during medical consultations. Aim: We sought to evaluate the prevention support offered by Polish physicians in 2013–2014 compared to 2003–2005, and its determinants. Methods: The data from two population surveys were analysed: WOBASZ (6392 men and 7153 women, aged 20–74 years, screened in 2003–2005) and WOBASZ II (2751 men and 3418 women, aged ≥ 20 years, screened in 2013–2014). For comparison analysis, the population of WOBASZ II was restricted to persons aged 20–74 years. Prevention delivery was assessed using a questionnaire. Results: Overall, 64% of men and 75% of women screened in 2003–2005 consulted their physicians at least once in the preceding year; 10 years later these rates were 70% and 82%, respectively. In both studies, 70% of respondents recalled having received one piece of prevention advice during a medical consultation. One-third of participants neither received any prevention advice nor had their blood pressure or cholesterol level measured. In WOBASZ II we observed a significant increase in the frequency of counselling regarding smoking cessation, nutrition, and increased physical activity, as well as in the frequency of cholesterol measurements, compared to WOBASZ. The prevention support was related to the health status. Conclusions: The prevention support in the years 2013–2014 was better than in 2003–2005, but was still insufficient. About one-third of participants did not receive any preventive advice. The prevention support was offered more often to patients with worse health status

Disparities in knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and prevention methods related to cardiovascular status and functional health literacy, Poland, 2020–2021

Background: Numerous studies have reported a significant role for health literacy (HL) in the prevention or treatment of various diseases. However, in Poland there was no scientific research involving the status of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and HL in the assessment of health knowledge simultaneously, therefore, it became the objective of the study. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the level of CVD knowledge depending on CVD status and functional HL in Polish population. Methods: The study population consisted of 2827 participants from the WOBASZ II Survey aged 20–89 years: 2266 were CVD-free (non-CVD), 361 were hospitalized with CVD (CVDH[+]) and 200 were diagnosed with CVD, but not hospitalized (CVDH[-]). The Newest Vital Sign test (NVS) was applied to determine functional HL. Self-reported knowledge of CVD risk factors (RFs) and prevention methods (PMs) between people with different CVD status depending on HL was estimated. Multivariable ordinal and binary logistic regression analyzes were performed to find predictors of RFs and PMs knowledge. Results: The knowledge of CVD RFs and/or PMs was strictly related to HL and CVD status. Inadequate HL decreased the satisfactory (≥5 RFs/PMs) knowledge of RFs (odds ratio [OR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40–0.62) and PMs (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.45–0.71). CVDH(-) people were more likely to have a satisfactory PMs knowledge (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.02–2.16), while CVDH(+) persons a satisfactory RFs knowledge (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.35–2.53). Conclusions: HL and CVD status are the key determinants of CDV RFs/PMs knowledge. Functional HL significantly affects health knowledge; therefore, HL screening should be recommended in primary care to increase the effectiveness of primary CVD prevention

Blood pressure and cholesterol control in patients with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia : the results from the Polish multicenter national health survey WOBASZ II

Introduction: Persons with multiple risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are at a greater risk than persons exposed to a single risk factor. Control of specific risk factors of CVD in Poland is rather poor. Effective control of comorbid hypertension and hypercholesterolemia seems especially challenging. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the control of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in patients with both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia; data from the Polish multicenter national health survey, WOBASZ II, were analyzed. Patients and methods: The WOBASZ II study was a cross-sectional survey conducted from 2013 to 2014 in 6170 people (3410 women and 2760 men) from all 16 Polish voivodships. Results: Age-standardized prevalence of coexisting hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in WOBASZ II sample was 34.6%. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in participants with hypertension was 69.7%. Age-standardized rates of control of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in the entire analyzed age range of 19 to 99 years was 24.3%, 11.2%, and 5.4%, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression models, control of both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia was associated with smoking (odds ratio [OR], 0.5; 95% CI, 0.34–0.76), cardiovascular disease (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.70–2.97), frequent medical visits (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.33–2.32), and high education level (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.03–1.80). Conclusions: Comorbid hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were observed in one-third of the Polish population (included in WOBASZ II study). Only 5.4% have both risk factors controlled. After adjustment for covariates, female sex, nonsmoking, comorbid CVD or diabetes, the frequency of medical visits, and high level of education appeared to increase the proportion of controlled hypertension or hypercholesterolemia

Nieinsulinowa hipoglikemia trzustkowa u dorosłych — przegląd genetyki

  Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is also classically referred to as “nesidioblastosis”. Heterogeneous clinical manifestation of the disease causes risk of late diagnosis or even misdiagnosis. In infants and children, it can lead to serious and permanent damage to the central nervous system, which leads to the manifesting mental retardation. HH is characterised by unregulated insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. This effect has been correlated with nine genes: ABCC8, KCNJ11, GCK, GLUD-1, HADH1, SLC16A1, HNF4A, HNF1A, and UCP2. Mutations in these genes were found in approximately 48% of cases. The genetic background of the remaining cases is unknown. Understanding the genetic basis of familial hyperinsulinism has changed the early look at the disease. It has allowed for the differentiation of specific types of the disease. Depending on which of the nine disease-associated loci bears a pathogenic mutation, they differ in phenotype and pattern of inheritance. This review provides a brief overview of the genetic mechanisms of HH and its possible clinical presentations. (Endokrynol Pol 2015; 66 (4): 344–354)    Hipogligemia hiperinsulinemiczna (HH) określana jest również terminem „nesidioblastoza”. Różnorodna kliniczna manifestacja choroby powoduje ryzyko późnej diagnozy, a nawet braku rozpoznania. U niemowląt i dzieci nesidioblastoza prowadzić może do ciężkich i trwałych uszkodzeń centralnego systemu nerwowego, manifestujących się w postaci niedorozwoju umysłowego. Hipogligemia hiperinsulinemiczna charakteryzuje się nieuregulowanym wydzielaniem insuliny przez komórki β trzustki. Efekt ten powiązany został z dziewięcioma genami: ABCC8, KCNJ11, GCK, GLUD-1, HADH1, SLC16A1, HNF4A, HNF1A i UCP2. Mutacje występujące w wymienionych genach znajdowane są u 48% chorych. Genetyczne podłoże pozostałych przypadków pozostaje nieznane. Zrozumienie genetycznej przyczyny rodzinnej postaci hiperisnulinizmu zmieniło sposób, w jaki postrzegano chorobę. Pozwoliło na wyróżnienie poszczególnych jej typów. W zależność od tego, w którym z dziewięciu zasocjowanych z chorobą loci występuje patogenna mutacja, typy różnią się fenotypem i sposobem dziedziczenia. Praca stanowi krótki przegląd genetycznych patomechanizmów choroby obserwowanych w HH oraz ich możliwych prezentacji klinicznych. (Endokrynol Pol 2015; 66 (4): 344–354)

Depressive symptoms and cardiovascular diseases in the adult Polish population. Results of the NATPOL2011 study

Background: Poland is a country of high cardiovascular risk. Because depression was found to be a predictor of coronary artery disease and the prevalence of depressive symptoms (DSs) has risen worldwide, their monitoring in the population is desirable. Aims: We sought to evaluate the prevalence of DSs in relation to the socio-demographic status and selected types of cardio­vascular diseases in the adult Polish population. Methods: A country-representative random sample of 2413 subjects, aged 18 to 79 years, was examined in 2011. Rates of self-reported cardiovascular conditions including hypertension (HT), coronary artery disease (CAD), previous myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, atrial fibrillation (AF), and stroke were assessed by a questionnaire, and the prevalence of DSs was assessed by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), separately in men and women. DSs were defined as BDI score ≥ 10 points. Results: Depressive symptoms were found in 23.4% of men and 33.4% of women (p &lt; 0.0001). The prevalence of DSs increased with age, from 16.5% in the youngest group of men to 48.3% in the oldest group of women. We found that DSs were significantly more prevalent in subjects suffering from HT, CAD, stroke, AF, and diabetes, and also in women after MI. The rates of DSs in women with a history of MI or stroke were extremely high (76.3% and 83.3%, respectively). Age and primary education level were associated with DSs, as was history of stroke in women. DSs were more often found in older persons and in those with primary level of education. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms were more prevalent in women compared to men, and they were significantly and inde­pendently associated with age and primary education level in both sexes, and with a history of stroke in women