Professional paper
Continental-Mediterranean and rural-urban differences in cardiovascular risk factors in Croatian population
Biserka Bergman Marković
; Department of Family Medicine, Zagreb University School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Davorka Vrdoljak
; Department of Family Medicine, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
Ksenija Kranjčević
; General Practice Office, Zagreb Zagreb-zapad Croatia
Jasna Vučak
; General General Practice Office, Sukošan, Croatia
Josipa Kern
; Department of Medical Statistics Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Bielen
; Department of Neurology, Holy Ghost, University Hospital, Zagreb
Dragica Ivezić Lalić
; 7eneral Practice Office, Novska Croatia
Milica Katić
; Department of Family Medicine, Zagreb University School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Željko Reiner
; Department of Internal Medicine , University of Zagreb Hospital Center, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To compare the distribution of cardiovascular disease
(CVD) factors between continental and Mediterranean areas
and urban and rural areas of Croatia, as well as to investigate
the differences in achieving treatment goals by the
general practitioners (GP) in different settings.
Methods A multicenter prospective study was performed
on 2467 participants of both sexes ≥40 years old, who visited
for any reason 59 general practices covering the whole
area of Croatia (May-July 2008). The study was a part of the
Cardiovascular Risk and Intervention Study in Croatia-family
medicine (CRISIC-fm) study. Patients were interviewed
using a 140-item questionnaire on socio-demographics
and CVD risk factors. We measured body mass index (BMI)
and waist circumference and determined biochemical
variables including blood pressure, total, high-density lipoprotein-,
and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides,
glycemia, and uric acid.
Results Participants from continental rural areas had significantly
higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure
(P < 0.001), obesity (P = 0.001), increased waist circumference
(P < 0.001), and more intense physical activity
(P = 0.020). Participants from coastal rural areas had higher
HDL-cholesterol, participants from continental rural and
coastal urban areas had higher LDL-cholesterol, and participants
from rural continental had significantly higher BMI
and waist circumference.
Conclusion Prevalence of CVD risk factors in Croatian
population is high. Greater burden of risk factors in continental
region and rural areas may be partly explained by
lifestyle differences.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
71474
URI
Publication date:
15.8.2011.
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