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Z Pisa

Publications and source records attributed to Z Pisa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Political changes and trends in cardiovascular risk factors in the Czech Republic, 1985-92.

BACKGROUND: Mortality from cardiovascular diseases is substantially higher in central and eastern Europe than in the west. After the fall of communism, these countries have undergone radical changes in their political, social, and economic environments but little is known about the impact of these changes on health behaviours or risk factors. Data from the Czech Republic, a country whose mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases are among the highest, were analysed in this report. OBJECTIVES: To examine the trends in cardiovascular risk factors in Czech population over the last decade during which a major and sudden change of the political and social system occurred in 1989, and whether the trends differed in relation to age and educational group. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data from three cross sectional surveys conducted in 1985, 1988, and 1992 as a part of the MONICA project were analysed. The surveys examined random samples of men and women aged 25-64 in six Czech districts and measured the following risk factors: smoking, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and total and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. RESULTS: The numbers of subjects (response rate) examined were 2573 (84%) in 1985, 2769 (87%) in 1988, and 2353 (73%) in 1992. Total cholesterol and body mass index increased between 1985 and 1988 and decreased between 1988 and 1992. The prevalence of smoking was declining slightly in men between 1985 and 1992 but remained stable in women. There were only small changes in blood pressure. The decline in cholesterol and BMI in 1988-92 may be related to changes in foods consumption after the price deregulation in 1991. An improvement in risk profile was more pronounced in younger age groups, and the declines in cholesterol and obesity were substantially larger in men and women with higher education. By contrast, there was an increase in smoking in women educated only to primary level. CONCLUSION: Substantial changes in cholesterol, obesity, and women's smoking occurred in the Czech population after the political changes in 1989. Although a causal association cannot be claimed, national trends in foods consumption are consistent with changes in blood lipids and obesity. Further monitoring of trends is required to confirm these trends.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Normal genetic variation at the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) locus influences cholesterol levels in children.

The population of Czechoslovakia is at high risk of premature atherosclerosis. Normal DNA polymorphism at the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) locus detectable with the restriction enzyme PvuII was analyzed in Czech children with a high or a low concentration of total serum cholesterol. The PvuII restriction site was found significantly more often in the low cholesterol group than in the high cholesterol group. Thus, normal genetic variation at the LDLR locus contributes to the population variation in cholesterol in children in the population studied.

Apolipoproteins B↗
PubMed1989

International differences in developing improvements in cardiovascular health.

The mortality rates for the years 1975-1985 for all causes, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases obtained from the WHO Data Bank in Geneva were analysed separately for men and women in the age group 30-69 years. Data from 30 industrialised countries were available for the analysis. In most of the countries cardiovascular diseases are still responsible for nearly half the deaths in men. The highest mortality rates, except for coronary heart disease, in the age groups studied are in Eastern Europe. Most countries in this region have also registered an increase in the mortality rates during the last decade. This increase is more pronounced in men than in women. The importance of the WHO MONICA Project (Multinational Monitoring of Cardiovascular Disease and Their Determinants) for interpreting these trends is discussed. Information is provided about another WHO project "The Intensified Programme in Coronary Heart Disease Prevention" in which 27 countries are participating. The aim of this project is to facilitate the national action plans for preventing coronary heart disease and exchanging information on their implementation in different countries.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Trends in cardiovascular disease mortality in industrialized countries since 1950.

In most industrialized countries, mortality in general, and cardiovascular disease mortality in particular, have shown decreasing trends since around 1970, following stagnation or increases observed during the 1950s and 1960s. In some countries, however (e.g. in Eastern Europe), male mortality from cardiovascular diseases increased during recent years. The levels and trends of mortality from cardiovascular diseases vary considerably among countries. Measured in terms of age-standardized rates, the ratio between the highest and the lowest rates around 1985 was about 2 for total mortality but about 4 for all cardiovascular diseases combined. With further breakdowns the ratio was even greater, i.e. 4-5 for heart diseases and 6-7 for cerebrovascular disease. For ischaemic heart disease alone, the ratio reached as high as 10, though part of this wide range should be attributed to artefacts due to the varying diagnostic practices followed in different countries. The speed of mortality changes also differed among countries, ranging from a rapid decrease to a rapid increase. In general, the trends were much more favourable in females than in males. Consequently, sex differentials have been widened. The male/female ratio in mortality for ischaemic heart disease has now exceeded 3 in a number of countries. The ratio for cerebrovascular diseases, which used to be close to 1 in many countries in the early 1950s, has also increased, often reaching the level of 1.5 or higher. Differentials were observed also among different age groups in some countries. There seems to be a tendency for mortality change, either an increase or a decrease, to be quicker in younger age groups than in older ones. These varying levels and trends in cardiovascular disease mortality have no doubt been caused by a multitude of risk factors operating in each country, affecting the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and their prognosis. Much is already known about these risk factors and about the measures to be taken by the health services as well as by individuals for prevention and effective therapy. The considerable variation in mortality levels and trends observed among different countries points to the possibility for action by countries heavily affected by cardiovascular diseases. Mortality surveillance in each country and at the international level thus reveals how each country's situation and trends compare with others and provides a basis for action and further research. Progress in WHO's MONICA (MONItoring of trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease) project will clarify various aspects of the role played by risk factors in different communities.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Myocardial infarction and water hardness in European towns.

The negative association between water hardness and cardiovascular disease found by several authors in different countries has also been found in the present investigation. All cases of myocardial infarction were registered in a standardized way at 15 WHO Collaborating Centres in Europe; information on the hardness of drinking water used by the population studies was also collected. Higher rates of myocardial infarction were usually found in towns served by softer water.

Climate↗
PubMed1979

Myocardial infarction and water hardness in the WHO myocardial infarction registry network.

The negative association between water hardness and cardiovascular disease found by several authors in different countries has also been found in the present investigation. All cases of myocardial infarction were registered in a standardized way at 15 WHO Collaborating Centres in Europe; information on the hardness of drinking water used by the population studied was also collected. Higher rates of myocardial infarction were usually found in towns served by softer water.

Aged↗