Incidence and economic burden of sarcoidosis in years 2011-2015 in Silesian voivodeship, Poland.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a rare, chronic systemic disease. Earlier data (2006-2010) suggest that the incidence of pulmonary sarcoidosis in Silesian voivodeship increased, however there is no current data on other clinical forms of the disease. OBJECTIVES: The aim of presented study was an analysis of the actual epidemiological situation of sarcoidosis with simultaneous estimation of treatment cost financed from public funds. METHODS: Epidemiological descriptive study concerned registered cases of sarcoidosis diagnosed in adult inhabitants of the Silesian voivodeship in years 2011-2015. Secondary epidemiological data on the main diagnosis and co-morbidity were obtained from the National Health Fund (NFZ) database in Katowice. Territorial and temporal variability of standardized incidence rates were analysed with simultaneous estimation of treatment costs reimbursed from the state budget. RESULTS: Pulmonary sarcoidosis was the most frequently registered clinical form of such disease in the Silesian voivodeship (65% of total cases). The highest number of cases was diagnosed in the age 35-54 years, frequently in men than in women. Significantly decrease of the standardized incidence of sarcoidosis noticed between 2011 and 2015 is related with observed lower number of total cases of pulmonary disease. Observed territorial variability of the sarcoidosis incidence requires future, well-planned studies. The annual average direct cost of sarcoidosis treatment is high and exceed 538 EUR per patient. CONCLUSIONS: It was confirmed that sarcoidosis in the Silesian Voivodeship is a rare disease, however reimbursed direct costs of treatment remains very high. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2020; 37 (1): 43-52).

Health inequalities among students of lower secondary schools in Bytom, Poland.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Poverty and low level of education pose the biggest threats to public health. Moreover, they generate inequalities in public healthThe aim of the study was to check if there are any inequalities in health among teenagers living in Bytom, Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2011 and 2012, an epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,099 students from lower secondary schools from Bytom. The students completed a questionnaire which was based on an earlier Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC). Socio-Economic Status of teenagers (SES) was determined according to the Family Affluence Scale (FAS), the intensity of possible problems in the place of residence and on parents' education. Impact of SES on health self-assessment, asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis with addition to spinal deformities were also investigated. RESULTS: A good or very good level of health was declared by students from families representing a high level of FAS and residing in a more peaceful, less troubled neighbourhood. The highest level of asthma prevalence (10.9%) occurred among students from families with a low level of FAS. The students from families with high FAS were less affected by spinal deformities (34.6%). Students living in a troubled neighbourhood more often suffered from bronchial asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis and spinal deformities. CONCLUSIONS: The level of family affluence depends on the parents' education and all the analysed health problems occurred more frequently in children whose parents had completed at least general secondary education. A high economic standard of living and a peaceful neighbourhood determined good or very good health self-assessment among the surveyed students.

[Childhood immunization rate in families of various socioeconomic status in the town of Bytom]. / Szczepienia ochronne dzieci w rodzinach o róznym stanie spoleczno-ekonomicznym w Bytomiu.

The project of the study was to find out if the childhood immunization rate depends on the social economical status (SES) of the families. The analyzed data were obtained in a population based study performed in 2002 in the town Bytom. Data set included to the health questionnaire provided by families of 13998 children aged from 6-17 years (68% of eligible population. Almost all children (98.5%) attended obligatory vaccination in early childhood. Non-immunization rate (NIR) was associated with self reported SES ("poor": 2.7% NIR, "good": 0.7% NIR; p < 0.0001). Other correlates included family income (p < 0.0001), maternal education (p < 0.0001), and family size (p < 0.0001). The multivariate logistic analysis confirms the effect of SES variables on the childhood immunization rate.