Prevalence and management of arterial hypertension in the population aged 25-64 in the Czech Republic with a focus on diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of arterial hypertension and its awareness rate and control rate among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients in the Czech Republic between 25-64 years of age and to compare the results with those in age-matched non-diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood pressure measurement data of 1 170 respondents (467 men and 703 women) obtained during the EHES study in 2014 were analysed. DM was diagnosed in 95 (8.2%) respondents (44 men and 51 women). RESULTS: Mean systolic blood pressure in DM patients was 130.7 ± 18.3 vs. 123.2 ± 16.8 mmHg in non-DM subjects (p < 0.001). The difference in diastolic blood pressure was on the borderline of statistical significance (82.2 ± 9.4 mmHg in DM vs. 80.0 ± 10.6 mmHg in non-DM subjects, p = 0.051). Among the study population, 69.5% of DM and 34.2% of non-DM subjects suffered from arterial hypertension (p < 0.001). The hypertension awareness rates were 87.9% in the DM group and 66.8 % in the non-DM group. (p = 0.001). The percentage of treated arterial hypertension was 94.8% in DM patients vs. 80.5% in the non-DM group (p = 0.010). The blood pressure target of < 140/90 mmHg was achieved in 47.3% of DM patients vs. 60.6% in non-DM subjects (p = 0.077). Using a blood pressure target of < 130/80 mmHg, adequate arterial hypertension control was achieved in only 29.1% of DM patients. When comparing the achievement of the blood pressure targets recommended for diabetic patients (< 130/80 mmHg) and non-DM patients (< 140/90 mmHg), the difference between these groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001) in favour of the non-diabetic group. CONCLUSION: The study has shown the prevalence of arterial hypertension to be twice as high in DM patients aged 25-64 compared to the age-matched non-DM subjects in the Czech Republic. The adequate blood pressure control rate is significantly lower in DM patients than in the non-diabetic population. The study results indicate that the blood pressure targets recommended for diabetic patients (< 130/80 mmHg) are not always reached in clinical practice.

Trends in health indicators in the urban middle-aged population in the Czech Republic in 1998-2010.

OBJECTIVES: To track the trends in general health indicators and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), high blood pressure and elevated blood cholesterol in the middle-aged urban population in the Czech Republic in 1998-2010. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The following data from the three-phase HELEN (HEalth - Lifestyle - ENvironment) study, a prevalence questionnaire survey, were analysed: data collected from 8214 subjects in phase I, 6107 subjects in phase II, and 4389 subjects in phase III. The study subjects were aged 45-54 years and the study period spanned from 1998 to 2010. The differences in the indicators between phases were evaluated by binary and ordinal logistic regression models at a significance level of 0.01. RESULTS: Over the study period, a significant increase was observed in the proportion of respondents who self-rated their health as very good or good: from 46.6% to 51.0% in males (P = 0.006) and from 45.5% to 49.9% in females (P < 0.001). At the same time, the rates of respondents under long-term medical follow-up rose significantly from 36.3% to 44.3% (P < 0.001) and from 46.4% to 56.2% (P < 0.001), respectively. CVD prevalence did not change although the percentage of males and females with high blood pressure (from 29.3% to 36.6% and from 26.0% to 31.2%, respectively) and elevated total cholesterol (from 29.0% to 36.6% and from 27.3% to 32.4%, respectively) increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Self-rated health among the middle-aged population in the Czech Republic improved during the 1998-2010 period, but, at the same time, more people needed to be followed up for a disease. The proportions of respondents with hypertension and elevated blood cholesterol increased while the CVD rates did not vary significantly.

[Incidence of risk factors of chronic non-infectious diseases including socioeconomic factors in the urban middle age population in the Czech Republic--results of HELEN study]. / Výskyt rizikových faktoru chronických neinfekcnich onemocnëní vcetne faktoru socioekonomických u mestské populace Ceské republiky stredniho veku--výsledky studie HELEN.

BACKGROUND: After 1990, there was a significant decline in total standardized mortality in the Czech Republic. One of the potential causes comprises improved lifestyle. The aim of this report is to present data concerning the lifestyle of the middle-aged urban population and incidence of risk factors of chronic non-infectious diseases associated with lifestyle, including socioeconomic markers as important health determinants. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 1998-2002, a total of 27 cities in the Czech Republic were tested for population health and associated behavioural patterns. In each city 400 male and 400 female subjects aged 45-54 years were randomly selected. Half of this sample was encouraged to undergo medical examination. Resulting data showed that 52.2% of men and 54.6% of women had insufficient physical activity. A total of 43.1% men and 34.9% women were regular smokers and 24.1% men and 21.2% suffered from obesity. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease was detected in 18% of men and 1.2% of women. Gender differences for all of these markers were statistically significant. A statistically significant relationship concerning socio-economic markers and health condition was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Although relatively well aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, the middle-aged urban population showed high incidence of influenceable risk factors for chronic diseases. Men compared to women had higher rates of risk factors and were at higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.