Reasons for not using condoms among heterosexual men in Belgrade, Serbia

No abstract available</p

Pancreatic cancer mortality in Serbia from 1991-2010 – a joinpoint analysis

Aim To analyze the trends of pancreatic cancer mortality in Serbia. Methods The study covered the population of Serbia in the period 1991 to 2010. Mortality trends were assessed by the joinpoint regression analysis by age and sex. Results Age-standardized mortality rates ranged from 5.93 to 8.57 per 100 000 in men and from 3.51 to 5.79 per 100 000 in women. Pancreatic cancer mortality in all age groups was higher among men than among women. It was continuously increasing since 1991 by 1.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 to 2.0) yearly in men and by 2.2% (95% CI 1.7 to 2.7) yearly in women. Changes in mortality were not significant in younger age groups for both sexes. In older men (≥55 years), mortality was increasing, although in age groups 70-74 and 80-84 the increase was not significant. In 65-69 years old men, the increase in mortality was significant only in the period 2004 to 2010. In ≥50 years old women, mortality significantly increased from 1991 onward. In 75-79 years old women, a non-significant decrease in the period 1991 to 2000 was followed by a significant increase from 2000 to 2010. Conclusion Serbia is one of the countries with the highest pancreatic cancer mortality in the world, with increasing mortality trend in both sexes and in most age group

HIV/AIDS Risk Behaviours among Roma and Non-Roma Sex Workers in Belgrade (Serbia)

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to analyze differences between Roma and non-Roma sex workers (SWs) according to their HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. In this study 91 Roma and 100 non-Roma SWs were included. They offered sex services at Belgrade hot spots during the period 2006–2007. Roma SW were significantly younger and with lower education and they were significantly more often without reading and writing skills than non Roma SW. They also significantly more often had the first sexual intercourse before an age of 14 years. Roma and non-Roma SWs did not differ significantly in their risky sex behaviors. Out of all SWs (both Roma and non-Roma) 13.6% had more than 5 clients daily, 61.3% always used a condom with the commercial sex partners and 17.3% always used a condom with the steady partner. More than half of all participants (55.0%) reported daily use of some psychoactive substance. Correct answers to all 6 standardized questions regarding HIV transmission gave only 9.9% Roma and 5.0% non-Roma SW and mean scores were 2.87 for Roma and 3.03 for non-Roma SW. These differences were not significant. According to multivariate analysis, Roma SWs were significantly younger, less educated, and with more testing to HIV during life in comparison with non Roma SWs. Significantly protective determinants for Roma SWs were knowledge of reading and writing and less frequently daily using of ecstasy during last month in comparison with non Roma SWs. It is necessary to continue work on education of both Roma and non-Roma SWs and to reconsider and revise the existing prevention programs regarding their impact on HIV transmission knowledge and the respective protective behaviors

Risks for First Nonfatal Myocardial Infarction in Belgrade

The aim of this study was to investigate which one among possible risk factors are independently related to first nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) in Belgrade population. Case-control study was conducted in Belgrade during the period 2005–2006. Case group comprised 100 subjects 35–80 years old who were hospitalized because of first nonfatal MI at the coronary care unit in Urgent Center, Belgrade. Control group consisted of 100 persons chosen among patients treated during the same period at the Institute of Rheumatology, Institute for Gastroenterology, and Clinic for Orthopedics, Belgrade, Serbia. Cases and controls were individually matched by sex, age (±2 years) and place of residence (urban/ rural communities of Belgrade). According to the multivariate analysis risk factors for MI occurrence were »good« socioeconomic conditions (OR=2.76), total alcohol consumption (OR=2.62) and consumption of brandy (OR=6.73), stressful life events taken together (OR=3.13) and stress because of close relative Ns death (OR=3.35), great financial problems (OR=31.64) and small financial problems (OR=8.47), hypertension (OR=2.39), MI among all relatives (OR=3.66), MI in father (OR=6.24), and low level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR=152.41). Amateur sport activity in the past was negatively associated with MI development. The results obtained are mainly in accordance with other studies results and can be of help in development of strategy for coronary heart disease prevention in Serbia

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with carotid disease according to NHLBI/AHA and IDF criteria: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been related to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Different criteria for diagnosis of MetS have been recommended, but there is no agreement about which criteria are best to use. The aim of the present study was to investigate agreement between the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, American Heart Association (NHLBI/AHA) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definitions of MetS in patients with symptomatic carotid disease and to compare the frequency of cardiovascular risk factor in patients with MetS diagnosed by these two sets of criteria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was a cross-sectional one involving 644 consecutive patients with verified carotid disease who referred to the Vascular Surgery Clinic Dedinje in Belgrade during the period April 2006 - November 2007. Anthropometric parameters blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and lipoproteins were measured using standard procedures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MetS was present in 67.9% of participants, according to IDF criteria, and in 64.9% of participants, according to the NHLBI/AHA criteria. A total of 119 patients were categorized differently by the two definitions. Out of all participants 10.7% had MetS by IDF criteria only and 7.8% of patients had MetS by NHLBI/AHA criteria only. The overall agreement of IDF and NHLBI/AHA criteria was 81.5% (Kappa 0.59, <it>p </it>< 0.001). In comparison with patients who met only IDF criteria, patients who met only NHLBI/AHA criteria had significantly more frequently cardiovascular risk factors with the exception of obesity which was significantly more frequent in patients with MetS diagnosed by IDF criteria.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The MetS prevalence in patients with symptomatic carotid disease was high regardless of criteria used for its diagnosis. Since some patients with known cardiovascular risk factors were lost by the use of IDF criteria it seems that NHLBI/AHA definition is more suitable for diagnosis of MetS. Large follow-up studies are needed to test prognostic value of these definitions.</p

Metabolic syndrome and restenosis of carotid artery

[Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III41002