Insufficient knowledge of adults in Poland on criteria of arterial hypertension and its complications — results of the NATPOL 2011 Survey

Wstęp. Nadciśnienie tętnicze (NT) należy do najbardziej rozpowszechnionych czynników ryzyka chorób serca i naczyń. Wśród podstawowych warunków skutecznej prewencji, wykrywania oraz leczenia NT wymienia się odpowiednią wiedzę w populacji generalnej na temat nadciśnienia tętniczego. Celem pracy była ocena świadomości Polaków w zakresie kryteriów i powikłań NT.Materiał i metody. Analizę przeprowadzono na podstawie wyników uzyskanych w programie badawczym NATPOL 2011, w którym badaniami objęto reprezentatywną próbę 2413 losowo wybranych mieszkańców Polski w wieku 18–79 lat [1245 kobiet (K) i 1168 mężczyzn (M)]. Oceniono odpowiedzi udzielone na dwa otwarte pytania na temat kryteriów NT i jego powikłań z uwzględnieniem wieku, płci, wykształcenia i miejsca zamieszkania. Analizę statystyczną przeprowadzono z wykorzystaniem regresji logistycznej wieloczynnikowej. Dla uproszczenia analizy wyników za prawidłowe górne granice ciśnienia tętniczego przyjęto 139–140 mm Hg i 89–90 mm Hg, odpowiednio dla ciśnienia skurczowego (SBP) i rozkurczowego (DBP).Wyniki. Badania wskazują, że w populacji dorosłych Polaków znajomość prawidłowych granic ciśnienia tętniczego jest niewielka. Istnieje duża dysproporcja między deklarowaną a rzeczywistą wiedzą Polaków dotyczącą prawidłowych górnych granic ciśnienia (dla K: 79,4% v. 8,3%; dla M: 74,8 % v. 6,6%). Jedynie 188 badanych (7,8% w tym K = 103 i M = 85) odpowiedziało poprawnie na zadane pytanie, a tylko 3 osoby (0,1%, w tym K = 2 i M = 1) podały w pełni prawidłowe górne wartości ciśnienia (tj. 139 mm Hg dla SBP i 89 mm Hg dla DBP). Wiedza w tym zakresie istotnie zwiększa się wraz z wiekiem (p < 0,002) i poziomem wykształcenia (p < 0,001). Do najczęściej wymienianych przez respondentów powikłań NT należały choroby serca (69,8%) oraz wylew krwi do mózgu lub niedokrwienie mózgu (66%). W małym stopniu znany jest w społeczeństwie związek między nieleczonym NT a chorobami nerek (11%) i uszkodzeniem narządu wzroku (7,7%). Świadomość w przypadku udaru mózgu i chorób nerek istotnie zwiększała się wraz z wiekiem i poziomem wykształcenia.Wnioski. Wiedza Polaków dotycząca kryteriów rozpoznania NT oraz powikłań, jakie może powodować nieleczone NT jest niewystarczająca. Dlatego konieczne jest prowadzenie intensywnych działań edukacyjnych w tym zakresie. Prezentowane w pracy wyniki powinny stanowić wskazówkę do planowania i realizacji tych działań, szczególnie u osób młodych oraz z wykształceniem podstawowym.Background. Arterial hypertension is one of the most widespread cardiovascular disease risk factors. Among the basic conditions of effective prevention, detection and treatment is appropriate knowledge in the general population about hypertension. The purpose of our study was to evaluate knowledge of adults in Poland on criteria and complications of hypertension.Material and methods. The analysis was based on the results obtained in the research program NATPOL 2011. The survey covered a representative sample of adults in Poland: 2413 randomly selected subjects aged 18–79 years [1245 females (F) and 1168 males (M)]. Rated answers to the two open questions on upper limits of normal blood pressure and complications of untreated hypertension were assessed and calculated with regard to age, gender, education and place of residence. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression. To simplify the analysis of results, for upper limits of normal blood pressure were taken: 139–140 mm Hg and 89–90 mm Hg, for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively.Results. Knowledge on hypertension criteria was small. A large disparity between the declared and actual knowledge on correct upper limits of blood pressure (for F: 79.4% vs. 8.3%; for M: 74.8% vs. 6.6%) was found. Only 188 subjects (7.8%; F = 103 and M = 85) answered correctly to the question and in the whole sample only 3 subjects (0.1%; F = 2 and M = 1) reported fully correct values, i.e. 139/89 mm Hg. We observed significant increase of knowledge with age (p < 0.002) and level of education (p < 0.001). Heart disease (69.8%) and stroke (66%) were the most frequently reported complications of untreated hypertension. Only a small percentage of subjects mentioned kidney damage (11%) and blurred vision (7.7%). Awareness on stroke and renal disease significantly increased with age and level of education.Conclusions. Knowledge of adults in Poland on upper limits of normal blood pressure and on complications of un treated hypertension is insufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct intensive education in this field. The results of our study provide guidance for planning and implementation of these activities, which should be led particularly in young people and subjects with primary education

Obesity in Polish Children and Parents’ Perception of Their Children’s Weight Status: The Results of the SOPKARD-Junior Study

One way to counteract the spread of obesity in children is its early recognition by parents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether parents’ perception of their children’s BMI category was consistent with their actual BMI assessment and to determine potential influential factors. The study was conducted as part of the “A program for the early detection of risk factors for lifestyle diseases SOPKARD-Junior” (SOPKARD-Junior), a preventive health program implemented in public elementary schools from 2017 to 2019. The results from 381 children with a mean age of 11.67 (SD = 1.52) were analyzed. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Surveys were conducted to assess parents’ perceptions of their child’s weight, along with their sociodemographic status. Nearly one in three parents were unable to correctly identify their children’s weight; 25.0% underestimated it, and 6.0% overestimated it. Underestimation was observed along with an increase in the children’s BMI weight category, with as many as 57.1% of parents of obese children misclassifying their weight. The child’s BMI was the only significant predictor of incorrect assessment. Polish parents cannot properly assess their children’s BMI, especially when their child is overweight or obese. In children, weight and height measurements should be taken regularly, rather than allowing weight category to be dependent upon parental weight assessments

Anthropometric Determinants of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia in Children

Background: The study was conducted to investigate the implications of anthropometry in school-aged children on the degree of respiratory sinus arrhythmia observed in clinical settings. Methods: In a cohort study, 626 healthy children (52% male) aged 10.8 ± 0.5 years attending primary school in a single town underwent a 12-lead electrocardiogram coupled with measurements of height, weight and blood pressure. Indices of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (pvRSA, RMSSD, RMSSDc) were derived from semi-automatic measurements of RR intervals. Height, weight, BMI, blood pressure as well as waist and hip circumferences were compared between subjects with rhythmic heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and correlations between indices of sinus arrhythmia and anthropometry were investigated. Results: Respiratory sinus arrhythmia was recognized in 43% of the participants. Subjects with sinus arrhythmia had lower heart rate (p < 0.001), weight (p = 0.009), BMI (p = 0.005) and systolic (p = 0.018) and diastolic (p = 0.004) blood pressure. There were important inverse correlations of heart rate and indices of sinus arrhythmia (r = −0.52 for pvRSA and r = −0.58 for RMSSD), but not the anthropometry. Conclusion: Lower prevalence of respiratory sinus arrhythmia among children with overweight and obesity is a result of higher resting heart rate observed in this population

Table_1_Significant improvements in cataract treatment and persistent inequalities in access to cataract surgery among older Poles from 2009 to 2019: results of the PolSenior and PolSenior2 surveys.DOCX

Background and aimsCataract is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness among older adults worldwide, that can be corrected through surgical interventions. However, diagnosis and treatment bias can be observed, and it is a major issue for improving health policies. Therefore, we assessed a declared prevalence of cataract and the frequency of surgical treatment of this condition in the Polish population in the years 2009–2019. To provide evidence of health inequalities, we compared operated and non-operated seniors using selected socioeconomic factors and identified variables affecting the availability of cataract surgery services over a 10-year follow-up period.MethodsAn analysis based on a survey among 4,905 participants of the nationwide PolSenior study conducted in 2008–2009, and 5,031 participants of PolSenior2 conducted one decade later to assess the health of Poles over 65 years of age.ResultsCataract diagnosis was declared by 25.5 and 28.2% of the study population in PolSenior and PolSenior2 surveys, respectively. Out of those diagnosed with cataract in PolSenior, 46.5% underwent surgical treatment for at least one eye. This rate increased up to 67.9% in the survey conducted 10 years later. Independent factors increasing the chance for cataract surgery in both cohorts included male sex and age > 75 years. Additional factors were self-reported good health status in PolSenior and lack of financial problems in purchasing medicines in PolSenior2. Over the investigated decade, the chances for cataract surgical treatment increased in single-living and widowed patients. The shortage of funds for medications remained the only significant barrier for surgery.ConclusionAlthough the prevalence of cataract in the older adult population in Poland has not changed from 2009 to 2019, the rate of cataract surgeries has considerably increased over the analyzed decade. Patients with lower socioeconomic status and women have lower access to surgical cataract management.</p