Preventable premature deaths (PYLL) in Northern Dimension partnership countries 2003-13.

BACKGROUND: Objective was to measure preventable premature loss of life in countries from same geographical area but with considerable differences in social and economic development. By comparing inter-country differences and similarities in premature mortality, acceleration of health-in-all-policies is enhanced. METHODS: Preventable premature deaths were described by Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL). Data consisted of death registers for 2003, 2009 and 2013. PYLL-rates were age-standardized by using standard OECD population from 1980 and expressed as sum of lost life years per 100 000 citizens. RESULTS: In Northern Dimension area, PYLL-rates had declined from 2003 to 2013. In 2013, worst PYLL-rate was in Belarus 9851 and best in Sweden 2511. PYLL-rates among men were twice as high as among women. Most premature losses (1023) were due to external causes. Malignant neoplasms came second (921) and vascular diseases third (816). Alcohol was also an important cause (270) and country differences were over 10-fold. CONCLUSIONS: In ND-area, the overall development of public health has been good during 2003-13. Nevertheless, for all countries foci for public health improvement and learning from each other could be identified. Examining the health of populations in countries from relatively similar geographical area with different social history and cultures can provide them with evidence-based tools for health-in-all-policies to advocate health promotion and disease prevention. Gender differences due to preventable premature deaths are striking. The higher the national PYLL-rate, the bigger the PYLL-rate difference between men and women and the loss of human capital.

Russia SimSmoke: the long-term effects of tobacco control policies on smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths in Russia.

BACKGROUND: Russia has high smoking rates and weak tobacco control policies. A simulation model is used to examine the effect of tobacco control policies on past and future smoking prevalence and premature mortality in Russia. METHODS: The Russia model was developed using the SimSmoke tobacco control model previously developed for the USA and other nations. The model inputs population size, birth, death and smoking rates specific to Russia. It assesses, individually and in combination, the effect of seven types of policies consistent with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC): taxes, smoke-free air, mass media campaign, advertising bans, warning labels, cessation treatment and youth access policies. Outcomes are smoking prevalence and the number of smoking-attributable deaths by age and gender from 2009 to 2055. RESULTS: Increasing cigarette taxes to 70% of retail price, stronger smoke-free air laws, a high-intensity media campaign and comprehensive treatment policies are each potent policies to reduce smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable premature deaths in Russia. With the stronger set of policies, the model estimates that, relative to the status quo trend, smoking prevalence can be reduced by as much as 30% by 2020, with a 50% reduction projected by 2055. This translates into 2 684 994 male and 1 011 985 female premature deaths averted from 2015-2055. CONCLUSIONS: SimSmoke results highlight the relative contribution of policies to reducing the tobacco health burden in Russia. Significant inroads to reducing smoking prevalence and premature mortality can be achieved through strengthening tobacco control policies in line with FCTC recommendations.

[Conflict of interest policies and disclosure requirements among European Society of Cardiology national cardiovascular journals]. / Políticas de conflictos de intereses y requisitos para su declaración en las revistas cardiovasculares nacionales de la Sociedad Europea de Cardiología.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is used by biomedical journals to guarantee credibility and transparency of the scientific process. Conflict of interest disclosure, however, is not systematically nor consistently dealt with by journals. Recent joint editorial efforts paved the way towards the implementation of uniform vehicles for conflicts of interest disclosure. This paper provides a comprehensive editorial perspective on classical conflict of interest-related issues. New insights into current conflicts of interest policies and practices among European Society of Cardiology national cardiovascular journals, as derived from a cross-sectional survey using a standardized questionnaire, are discussed.

Políticas de conflictos de intereses y requisitos para su declaración en las revistas cardiovasculares nacionales de la Sociedad Europea de Cardiología / Conflict of interest policies and disclosure requirements among european society of cardiology national cardiovascular journals

Las revistas biomédicas utilizan la declaración de posibles conflictos de intereses para garantizar la credibilidad y la transparencia del proceso científico. Sin embargo, las revistas no abordan la declaración de conflictos de intereses de manera sistemática ni uniforme. Recientes esfuerzos editoriales conjuntos han abierto el camino a la aplicación de herramientas uniformes para la declaración de conflictos de intereses. En este artículo se presenta una visión integral sobre cuestiones clásicas relacionadas con los conflictos de intereses desde un punto de vista editorial. Además, a partir de los datos de un estudio transversal basado en el empleo de un cuestionario estandarizado, se comentan nuevas apreciaciones sobre las políticas y los actuales procedimientos editoriales relativos a los conflictos de intereses en las diversas revistas cardiovasculares nacionales de la Sociedad Europea de Cardiología.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is used by biomedical journals to guarantee credibility and transparency of the scientific process. Conflict of interest disclosure, however, is not systematically nor consistently dealt with by journals. Recent joint editorial efforts paved the way towards the implementation of uniform vehicles for conflicts of interest disclosure. This paper provides a comprehensive editorial perspective on classical conflict of interest-related issues. New insights into current conflicts of interest policies and practices among European Society of Cardiology national cardiovascular journals, as derived from a cross-sectional survey using a standardized questionnaire, are discussed.

Hypertensives in Russia are interested in a healthier lifestyle: results of the RELIF multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: There are several reasons for the gap between guidelines and routine practice of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Among these patient-related factors are interest and motivation for lifestyle modification. DESIGN: The article represents a subgroup analysis of RELIF (REgularnoe Lechenie I proFilaktika) study conducted in 20 cities of Russia, where five polyclinics were selected randomly, with five general practitioners (GPs) in each. Each GP enrolled five consecutive hypertensive patients. METHODS: Physicians and patients completed questionnaires concerning patients' medical history, risk factors (RF), health education, interest in lifestyle changes, recommendations and compliance. Patients also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Statistical analysis was performed by variation statistics standard algorithm. RESULTS: 1078 patients were enrolled. The survey revealed a high prevalence of cardiovascular RF (e.g. hyperlipidemia in 64.23 per cent of patients, obesity in 43.97 per cent, smoking in 43.51 per cent of men) as well as of unhealthy food habits. Anxiety was seen in 55.4 per cent of patients and depressive symptoms in 44.8 per cent. A minority knew the cardiovascular RF: hypertension was listed by 22.4 per cent of men and 32.5 per cent of women; obesity by 18.3 per cent of men and 27.8 per cent of women; smoking by 34.9 per cent (men) and 14.9 per cent (women); and cholesterol by 3.3 per cent (men) and 7.7 per cent (women). Among both men and women, 30 per cent knew the limits of normal BP. Many patients (86 per cent) received information predominantly from GPs, and were not satisfied with it. A large number of patients (79.3 per cent) demonstrated various degree of readiness for lifestyle changes, and 30.62-48.8 per cent of patients were interested in additional education. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates both high prevalence of RF in hypertensives in Russia, and low level of patient's knowledge on CVD-related issues. The high level of patients' motivation for lifestyle changes offers possibilities for future improvement.