Physical activity, arterial hypertension and waist circumference in men from Warmia and Masuria region in Poland

Introduction. Regular physical activity is a recognized method of non-pharmacological prevention many chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of physical activity and abdominal obesity in 631 randomly selected men from Warmia and Masuria region in Poland. Material and methods. 631 men from the Warmia and Mazury region in age of 19–82 years (47.2 } 13.7 years) were examined between Dec 2014 and Dec 2016. Participants completed standardized questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were performed. BP was measured. In serum of 398 participants glucose and lipidogram were measured. Analyses were performed separately for three groups depending on time of physical activity in week: ACT+ (meet WHO physical activity recommendations ≥ 150 min/week), ACT+/- (do not meet WHO recommendations < 150 min/week and ≥ 50 min/week) and ACT — (do sport occasionally or never). Two groups were performed depending on the BP: AHT+ (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg or antihypertensive therapy) and AHT — (BP values < 140/90 mmHg and no antihypertensive therapy). Results. ACT-, ACT+/- and ACT+ accounted respectively for 53%, 24% and 23%, AHT+ for 55.6% and men with waist circumference ≥ 94 cm for 63.9% of studied population. In ACT- increased BP was measured more frequently in comparison with ACT+. In ACT+ waist circumference, DBP and HR were lower and PP was higher in comparison to ACT-. Laboratory tests results did not differ between all three groups of respondents. It was observed that group of participants with waist circumference < 94 cm had lower values of blood pressure parameters in comparison to participants with waist circumference ≥ 94 cm. Conclusions. Only 1 out of 4 men in Warmia and Masuria region in Poland meets the WHO physical activity recommendations, 64% of them have abdominal obesity and more than a half had measured increased values of arterial blood pressure. These findings reveal increased risk o

Metabolic syndrome in male population of the Warmia and Masuria region in Poland

Wstęp. Celem pracy była ocena częstości występowania zespołu metabolicznego (MS) według zaleceń IDF 2005 wśrod mężczyzn w wojewodztwie warmińsko-mazurskim. Materiał i metody. Zbadano 631 mężczyzn w wieku 19–82 lat. Dane zebrano między XII 2014 r. a XII 2016 r. Każdy z badanych wypełnił standaryzowany kwestionariusz. Dokonano pomiarow antropometrycznych. Zmierzono ciśnienie tętnicze. W surowicy 398 mężczyzn (wiek: 48 } 13) zbadano poziom glukozy i lipidogram. Analizy przeprowadzono dla czterech grup wiekowych: < 30, 30–47, 48–64, ≥ 65 lat. Wyodrębniono grupy: MS+ badani spełniali kryteria MS oraz MS- badani nie spełniali tych kryteriow. Wyniki. MS rozpoznano u 45,7% badanych. Zaobserwowano istotny wzrost częstości występowania MS w grupach wiekowych: < 30 lat 9,5%, 30–47 lat 38,1%, 48–64 lat 53,2%, ≥ 65 lat 65,8%. Częstość występowania kryteriow MS (n = 398) wyniosła: obwod talii (≥ 94 cm) u 254 badanych (63,8%); stężenie triglicerydow (≥ 150 mg/dl lub leczenie hipertriglicerydemii) u 146 (36,7%); HDL (< 40 mg/dl lub leczenie dyslipidemii) u 83 (20,9%); glukoza na czczo (≥ 100 mg/dl lub leczenie cukrzycy) w 173 (43,5%), podwyższone ciśnienie tętnicze (SBP > 130 mmHg lub DBP ≥ 85 mmHg lub leczenie nadciśnienia tętniczego) u 313 (78,6%). Wnioski. Częstość występowania MS wśrod populacji męskiej Warmii i Mazur wynosiła 45.75% i wykazywała istotny wzrost z wiekiem. Wyniki potwierdzają konieczność wczesnego wykrywania MS u mężczyzn w tym regionie Polski.  Background. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in male population of the Warmia and Masuria region in Poland according to IDF 2005 recommendations. Material and methods. 631 men, aged 19–82 years (mean 47 } 14) were examined between Dec 2014 and Dec 2016. Standardized questionnaire was completed by the subjects. Anthropometric measurements were performed. Blood pressure was measured. Blood tests (serum fasting glucose, lipidogram) were performed in 398 men (age: 48 } 13years). Following age groups were identified: < 30YOA, 30–47YOA, 48–64YOA, ≥ 65YOA. Two groups of 398 men were defined: MS+ who fulfilled MS criteria, MS- who did not fulfill MS criteria. Results. MS was diagnosed in 45.7% of 398 men. There was a significant age-related increase in its prevalence: < 30years of age (YOA) 9.5%, 30–47YOA 38.1%, 48–64YOA 53.2%, ≥ 65YOA 65.8%. Prevalence of components of MS in study group (n = 398) was: waist circumference (≥ 94 cm) in 254 (63.8%); high triglycerides (≥ 150 mg/dl or hypertriglyceridemia treatment) in 146 (36.7%); low HDL (< 40 mg/dl or dyslipidemia treatment) in 83 (20.9%); fasting glucose (≥ 100 mg/dl or diabetes treatment) in 173 (43.5%); elevated blood pressure (SBP ≥ 130 mmHg or DBP ≥ 85 mmHg or treatment of hypertension) in 313 (78.6%). Conclusions. The prevalence of MS in male population of Warmia and Masuria was 45.7% with significant increase in age. The study confirms the necessity of early prevention of MS in that region of Poland.

Oko — okno na choroby sercowo-naczyniowe

Zmiany mikronaczyniowe mogą występować równolegle, a nawet wyprzedzać rozwój chorób sercowo-naczyniowych. Gałka oczna, z uwagi na transparentność elementów anatomicznych, jest wyjątkowym miejscem umożliwiającym ocenę mikrokrążenia. Za pomocą skaningowej laserowej przepływometrii dopplerowskiej (SLDF) możliwa jest ocena parametrów strukturalnych i czynnościowych mikrokrążenia siatkówki w sposób całkowicie nieinwazyjny i in vivo. Zjawiska obserwowane w siatkówce oka, takie jak zwężenie światła arterioli, zwiększenie stosunku grubości ściany do światła arterioli (WLR), rozrzedzenie sieci kapilar lub zmniejszony przepływ w naczyniach włosowatych, są czynnikami niezależnie związanymi z chorobami kardiometabolicznymi: nadciśnieniem tętniczym, niewydolnością serca, chorobą wieńcową, udarem, przewlekłą chorobą nerek i cukrzycą. Z tego powodu ocena mikrokrążenia siatkówkowego może dostarczyć wielu nowych informacji o mechanizmach leżących u podłoża różnych chorób, ujawnić wczesne biomarkery uszkodzenia narządów docelowych w przebiegu chorób sercowo-naczyniowych oraz ułatwić stratyfikację ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego

Zespół metaboliczny wśród mężczyzn z województwa warmińsko-mazurskiego w Polsce

Wstęp. Celem pracy była ocena częstości występowania zespołu metabolicznego (MS) według zaleceń IDF 2005 wśród mężczyzn w województwie warmińsko-mazurskim. Materiał i metody. Zbadano 631 mężczyzn w wieku 19–82 lat. Dane zebrano między grudniem 2014 a grudniem 2016 roku. Każdy z badanych wypełnił standaryzowany kwestionariusz. Dokonano pomiaroów antropometrycznych. Zmierzono ciśnienie tętnicze. W surowicy 398 mężczyzn (wiek: 48 ± 13 roku) zbadano poziom glukozy i lipidogram. Analizy przeprowadzono dla czterech grup wiekowych: < 30, 30–47, 48–64, ≥ 65 lat. Wyodrębniono grupy: MS+ — badani spełniali kryteria MS, oraz MS– — badani nie spełniali tych kryteriów. Wyniki. MS rozpoznano u 45,7% badanych. Zaobserwowano istotny wzrost częstości występowania MS w grupach wiekowych: < 30 lat — 9,5%, 30–47 lat — 38,1%, 48–64 lat — 53,2%, ≥ 65 lat — 65,8%. Częstość występowania kryteriów MS (n = 398) wynosiła: obwód talii ≥ 94 cm u 254 badanych (63,8%), stężenie triglicerydów ≥ 150 mg/dl lub leczenie hipertriglicerydemii u 146 (36,7%), HDL < 40 mg/dl lub leczenie dyslipidemii u 83 (20,9%), glukoza na czczo ≥ 100 mg/dl lub leczenie cukrzycy u 173 (43,5%), podwyższone ciśnienie tętnicze SBP > 130 mm Hg lub DBP ≥ 85 mm Hg, lub leczenie nadciśnienia tętniczego u 313 (78,6%) osób. Wnioski. Częstość występowania MS wśród populacji męskiej Warmii i Mazur wynosiła 45,75% i wykazywała istotny wzrost wraz z wiekiem. Wyniki potwierdzają konieczność wczesnego wykrywania MS u mężczyzn w tym regionie Polski

The eye — a window to cardiovascular diseases

Microvascular alterations can parallel and even precede development of cardiovascular disease. Ocular bulb, due to transparent anatomical elements provides a unique opportunity to examine microcirculation non-invasively and in vivo by means of scanning laser Doppler flowmetry. This device enables to obtain both structural and functional parameters of retinal microvasculature. Alterations observed in retinal arterioles, i.e. lumen narrowing, increased wall-to-lumen ratio, rarefaction or reduced retinal capillary flow, have been independently associated with cardiometabolic diseases: hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease and diabetes.Therefore, examination of easily accessible retinal microcirculation may provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying various diseases, serve as a marker of target organ damage and add valuable information to cardiovascularrisk stratification

Data from: Retinal capillary rarefaction in patients with untreated mild-moderate hypertension

Background: Microvascular rarefaction influences peripheral vascular resistance, perfusion and metabolism by affecting blood pressure and flow pattern. In hypertension microvascular rarefaction has been described in experimental animal studies as well as in capillaroscopy of skin and biopsies of muscle tissue in patients. Retinal circulation mirrors cerebral microcirculation and allows non-invasive investigations. We compared capillary rarefaction of retinal vessels in hypertensive versus normotensive subjects. Methods: In this study retinal capillary rarefaction in 70 patients with long time (more than 67 month of disease duration) and 64 patients with short time hypertension stage 1 or 2 has been compared to 55 healthy control subjects, who participated in clinical trials in our Clinical Research Center (www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01318395, NCT00627952, NCT00152698, NCT01319344). Retinal vascular parameters have been measured non-invasively and in vivo in perfusion image by scanning laser Doppler flowmetry (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany). Capillary rarefaction was assessed by capillary area (CapA) (in pixel-number) and intercapillary distance (ICD) (in μm). Additionally retinal capillary flow (RCF) was measured. Results: ICD was greater in the long time hypertensive group compared to healthy individuals (24.2 ± 6.3 μm vs 20.1 ± 4.2 μm, p = 0.001) and compared to short time hypertensive patients (22.2 ± 5.2 μm, p = 0.020). Long time hypertensive patients showed less CapA compared to healthy people (1462 ± 690 vs 1821 ± 652, p = 0.005). Accordingly, RCF was significantly lower in the long time hypertensive group compared to the healthy control group (282 ± 70 AU vs 314 ± 60 AU, p = 0.032). Our data indicate a lower level of retinal capillary density in hypertensive patients, especially in those with long time hypertension. Conclusion: Patients with hypertension stage 1 or 2 showed retinal capillary rarefaction in comparison to healthy normotensive subjects. Retinal capillary rarefaction was intensified with duration of disease

Evaluation of Morphological Changes in Retinal Vessels in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with the Use of Adaptive Optics

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus contributes to the development of microvascular complications in the eye. Moreover, it affects multiple end organs, including brain damage, leading to premature death. The use of adaptive optics technique allows to perform non-invasive in vivo assessment of retinal vessels and to identify changes in arterioles about 100 μm in diameter. The retinal vasculature may be a model of the cerebral vessels both morphologically and functionally. Aim. To evaluate morphological parameters of retinal arterioles in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). Material and methods. The study included 22 DM1 patients (13 females) aged 43.00 ± 9.45 years with a mean diabetes duration of 22.55 ± 10.05 years, and 23 healthy volunteers (10 females) aged 41.09 ± 10.99 years. Blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference, and metabolic control markers of diabetes were measured in both groups. Vascular examinations were performed using an rtx1 adaptive optics retinal camera (Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France); the vessel wall thickness (WT), lumen diameter (LD), wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR), and vascular wall cross-sectional area (WCSA) were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed with the application of IMB SPSS version 23 software. Results. The DM1 group did not differ significantly in age, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, or axial length of the eye compared to the control group. Intraocular pressure (IOP) in both groups was normal, but in the DM1 group it was significantly higher. The DM1 group had significantly higher WT, WLR, and WCSA. These parameters correlated significantly with the duration of diabetes, but not with IOP. Conclusions. The presented study demonstrates the presence of significant morphological changes in retinal vessels in DM1 patients without previously diagnosed diabetic retinopathy. Similar changes may occur in the brain and may be early indicators of cardiovascular risk, but further investigation is required to confirm that

Retinal capillary rarefaction in patients with untreated mild-moderate hypertension

Abstract Background Microvascular rarefaction influences peripheral vascular resistance, perfusion and metabolism by affecting blood pressure and flow pattern. In hypertension microvascular rarefaction has been described in experimental animal studies as well as in capillaroscopy of skin and biopsies of muscle tissue in patients. Retinal circulation mirrors cerebral microcirculation and allows non-invasive investigations. We compared capillary rarefaction of retinal vessels in hypertensive versus normotensive subjects. Methods In this study retinal capillary rarefaction in 70 patients with long time (more than 67 month of disease duration) and 64 patients with short time hypertension stage 1 or 2 has been compared to 55 healthy control subjects, who participated in clinical trials in our Clinical Research Center ( www.clinicaltrials.gov : NCT01318395, NCT00627952, NCT00152698, NCT01319344). Retinal vascular parameters have been measured non-invasively and in vivo in perfusion image by scanning laser Doppler flowmetry (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany). Capillary rarefaction was assessed by capillary area (CapA) (in pixel-number) and intercapillary distance (ICD) (in μm). Additionally retinal capillary flow (RCF) was measured. Results ICD was greater in the long time hypertensive group compared to healthy individuals (24.2 ± 6.3 μm vs 20.1 ± 4.2 μm, p = 0.001) and compared to short time hypertensive patients (22.2 ± 5.2 μm, p = 0.020). Long time hypertensive patients showed less CapA compared to healthy people (1462 ± 690 vs 1821 ± 652, p = 0.005). Accordingly, RCF was significantly lower in the long time hypertensive group compared to the healthy control group (282 ± 70 AU vs 314 ± 60 AU, p = 0.032). Our data indicate a lower level of retinal capillary density in hypertensive patients, especially in those with long time hypertension. Conclusion Patients with hypertension stage 1 or 2 showed retinal capillary rarefaction in comparison to healthy normotensive subjects. Retinal capillary rarefaction was intensified with duration of disease

Epidemiological Survey and Retrospective Analysis of <i>Salmonella</i> Infections between 2000 and 2017 in Warmia and Masuria Voivodship in Poland

Background and Objectives: Salmonellosis is a major foodborne bacterial infection throughout the world. Epidemiological surveillance is one of the key factors to reduce the number of infections caused by this pathogen in both humans and animals. The first outcome measure was the prevalence of non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) infections between 2000 and 2017 among the population of the predominantly agricultural and touristic Polish region of Warmia and Masuria (WaM). The second outcome measure was the comparison of the NTS hospitalization rate of all registered NTS cases, an investigation of the monthly reports of infections, and the exploration of the annual minimal and maximal NTS infection number in WaM in the above-mentioned time period. The last outcome was a comparison of the prevalence of NTS infections in the region and in its administrative districts by considering both rural and urban municipalities three years before and three years after the accession of Poland into the European Union (EU) in 2004. Materials and Methods: The total number of infections and hospitalizations in the 19 districts of the WaM voivodship in Poland was registered monthly between 2000&#8211;2017 by the Provincial Sanitary-Epidemiological Station in Olsztyn, Poland. Results: Between 2000 and 2017, the number of diagnosed salmonellosis cases decreased significantly in WaM; the decrease was higher in urban districts than in rural ones, and the ratio of hospitalizations and the total number of NTS cases increased significantly across all districts. The lowest number of cases was reported in the winter months and was stable from 2007, whereas the highest number was reported in the summer months with a higher tendency of outbreaks. Conclusion: The falling number of salmonellosis cases in 2000&#8211;2017 in WaM reflects the general trend in Poland and Europe. The decrease of NTS infections in WaM is related to the accession of Poland into the EU