Socio-demographic and lifestyle correlates of commuting activity in Poland.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to analyse the epidemiology of active transportation and to investigate the relationship between commuting physical activity (PA) and socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics in Poland. METHODS: A cross sectional analysis was conducted among 7280 randomly selected individuals (3747 men and 3533 women) aged 20-74 years participating in the National Multicentre Health Survey WOBASZ (2002-2005). Socio-demographic, smoking and physical activity details were assessed by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Only 36% of the participants (30% men and 42% of women) are active commuters. Moreover, 55.4% of them spend less than 15 min/day on walking or cycling. The highest risk of commuting inactivity was noticed among residents of large urban settings, with university education, the highest income and low occupational PA in both genders. Smoking and leisure-time PA were not significantly associated with commuting activity. CONCLUSIONS: Active commuting is not common in Poland. There are several differences in commuting patterns as compared with the US or Western European populations. Due to important differences between various socio-demographic groups, future interventions should be specific for the targeted subpopulations.

Effectiveness of the Open Screening Programs in Recruiting Subjects to Prodromal and Mild Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Due to the lack of scientific data comparing the success and cost-effectiveness of trial recruiting strategies, the main goal of this paper is to present our results and experiences in recruiting participants to prodromal and mild AD clinical trials from an open-access screening program. DESIGN: The screening procedure includes the interview, and combined tests administration conducted by experienced neuropsychologist: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (AVLT). The clinical evaluation was based on test scores, patient and/or caregiver interview, and the health questionnaire. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: The open-access screening program was conducted in Wroclaw Alzheimer's Center for 18 months (2018-2019). We invited individuals age 50 or older with the caregivers. The total number of subjects was 730 (N=730). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Due to our research, the detection rates in the screened population were 0,7% for severe dementia, 4,1% for moderate dementia, 18,6% for mild dementia, and 28,9% for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). From 347 individuals classified in our open-access screening programs as MCI or mild dementia patients, as many as 248 patients were screened in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials, which is 71,47%. Moreover, 63 from 347 individuals selected from our program as MCI or mild dementia patients were randomized into the clinical trials, which is 18,16%. Furthermore, 63 from total 730 (8,6%) patients were randomized in clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: Open-access screening programs can improve detection of MCI and dementia in society, help to distinguish demented from non-demented elderly, and improve recruitment of prodromal AD patients who would probably not have come to the memory clinic otherwise.

Epidemiology of physical inactivity in Poland: prevalence and determinants in a former communist country in socioeconomic transition.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify physical activity patterns and determinants of physical inactivity in a representative sample of Polish adults. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis of 14 769 randomly selected individuals (52.7% women and 47.3% men) aged 20-74 years participating in the National Polish Health Survey, WOBASZ (2002-2005). METHODS: Sociodemographic and lifestyle details were collected. Assessment of physical activity was based on selected questions from the CINDI Health Monitor Questionnaire. RESULTS: Approximately 35% of Polish adults are not physically active in leisure time, whilst 39.5% declare sufficient level of leisure-time physical activity. Leisure-time inactivity is significantly less likely in persons aged <35 years, those with university education and those living in rural areas. Almost 48% of men and 28.4% of women employed full- or part-time report highly active work, whilst sedentary work is reported by 42.7% of women and 30.2% of men. Low occupational activity is more prevalent in young adults, persons with university education and those living in large urban areas. Nearly 67% of the entire working population report no active commuting. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to promote various forms of physical activity, with special attention on active commuting and leisure-time activities across both genders and all age groups. Public health policies and programmes should focus on substantial differences between various sociodemographic groups.