Original scientific paper
Prevalence of Increased Body Weight and Hypertension in the Population of Croatian Mainland and Adriatic Islands – Are Islanders Really Healthier?
Ivana Kolčić
; Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, »Andrija Štampar« School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Zrinka Biloglav
; Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, »Andrija Štampar« School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Lina Zgaga
; Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, »Andrija Štampar« School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ariana Vorko Jović
; Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, »Andrija Štampar« School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivo Curić
; Clinical Hospital Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Snježana Curić
; Family Physician, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jelena Sušac
; Psychiatric Hospital »Vrapče«, Zagreb, Croatia
Vedran Velagić
; University Hospital Centre »Zagreb«, Zagreb, Croatia
Lana Matec
; Emergency Medicine Service, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivana Zobić
; University Hospital »Merkur«, Zagreb, Croatia
Jurica Žedelj
; Emergency Medicine Service, Mali Lošinj, Croatia
Marija Strnad
; Croatian National Institute for Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of the hypertension and the increased body weight (BMI) between Croatian mainland and Adriatic island population. The data from the Croatian Adult Health Survey (N=9,070) served as an estimate for the mainland Croatian population, while the data from »1001 Dalmatian study« (N=1,001) were collected from four Adriatic islands; Rab, Vis, Lastovo and Mljet. The prevalence of increased body weight and hypertension was calculated for the four age groups and analyzed using chi-square test. The results indicate that men from the islands less frequently had normal body mass index (P<0.001), and were more frequently overweight (P<0.001). The prevalence of overweight and obesity were similar between the island and mainland women. The percent of normotensive respondents in men was significantly lower in islands (P<0.001), while the prevalence of newly diagnosed hypertension was significantly higher among islanders in both genders (P<0.001). Despite the traditionally prevalent Mediterranean diet and overall more favorable lifestyle islanders may not be as healthy as previously studies suggested, in terms of cardiovascular risk factors prevalence. This might be related to the poor access to health care and preventive measures or low interest for health care especially among men on the islands, reflected in the higher prevalence of newly diagnosed hypertension. These findings suggest that island populations represent good candidates for disease awareness programs and health promotion interventions.
Keywords
body mass index; hypertension prevalence; islands; mainland; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
39740
URI
Publication date:
1.4.2009.
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