Trends in standardized mortality rates for select groups of cardiovascular diseases in Slovakia between 1980 and 2010.

OBJECTIVES: Reducing mortality due to cardiovascular diseases especially in people less than 65 years is one of the main targets of WHO preventive programs. This work aimed to analyse recent trends in cardiovascular mortality rates in Slovakia. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study was implemented with a Joinpoint analysis. METHODS: Analysis was of annual all circulatory, acute myocardial infarction mortality, and cerebrovascular disease mortality rates, between 1980 and 2010 for Slovakia. Data were stratified by sex and 10-year age group (age 25-85 years). The annual percentage change (APC) and significant changes in the trend were identified using joinpoint Poisson regression. RESULTS: The standardized mortality rate for all cardiovascular diseases declined in Slovakia between 1980 and 2010 by 25.7% and 30.5% for men and women, respectively. Joinpoint analysis of all cardiovascular disease mortality rates demonstrated statistically significant changes in trends of APC decline for both genders. For men, acceleration in the rate of decline between 2001 and 2010 was observed APC -2.2 (95% CI = -3.5, -1.2) following a slowing of the rate of decline between 1980 and 2001, when the APC reached -0.5 (95% CI = -0.8, -0.3). For women the trend was similar. Between 2003 and 2010 acceleration in the decline was demonstrated APC -2.8 (95% CI = -4.3, -1.4). CONCLUSION: The results of our analysis demonstrate the need to constantly address issues of cardiovascular diseases, as mortality rates in Slovakia are among the highest within the European Union countries in the long term.

Health status of the Slovakia population at its entry to the European Union.

The health status of the Slovak Republic (SR) population on the eve of its entry to the European Union (EU) was generally worse than the EU average. Life expectancy at birth was in SR for males 70 years, in EU 75.5 years and for females 78 in SR and 82 in EU. Premature mortality for the age interval 0-64 years (standardized death rates--SDR per 100,000) was mostly higher in SR; male mortality being almost twice as high as in EU. The reason was a significantly higher mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases, malignant neoplasms and mortality from external causes. Also mortality caused by diseases of respiratory and digestive system, by cirrhosis and diabetes is higher in SR both in male and female populations. However, there were some positive aspects in SR. Mortality caused by infectious and parasitic diseases was lower in SR for both males and females. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in EU was five times higher than in SR. SR has one of the lowest concentrations of newly registered AIDS cases in all Europe. Immunization coverage in SR is higher than in many EU countries. The health status of children population in SR is not significantly worse than in EU. However, the global health status image seems worse due to values of the Gypsy minority. Trends of premature mortality are favourable in SR. Mortality from cardiovascular diseases, external causes of injury and poison and from diseases of respiratory system is falling. Infant mortality is falling while the average life expectancy of both men and women is rising. However, with health care improving constantly in EU countries in all these areas, it will not be easy for SR to catch up with EU. We estimate that this process might possibly take up to 20 years. (Tab. 5, Fig. 11, Ref. 26.)

[Treatment of patients with ulcer at an outpatient facility]. / Opyt lecheniia bol'nykh iazvennoi bolezn'iu v ambulatornykh usloviiakh.

The most frequent affection of digestive apparatus is the ulcerative disease. Ulcerative duodenal or gastric affection irrespective of its localization is a chronic cyclic recidivating disease of whole organism. It affects mainly an active able-bodied age and often results in heavy course and physical disability. The complicated forms of ulcerative disease--bleeding, perforation, stenosis--require the surgical intervention.

Serological evidence of Hantaan virus in Slovakia during 1989-1991.

Nephropathia epidemica was supposed to be an European form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). However, in 1989-1991 we found serological evidence of infection with Hantaan virus in patients' sera from Slovakia. Higher titers of antibodies against Hantaan virus were detected in sera of 6 out of 75 patients with febrile disease, renal failure and clinical diagnosis of HFRS. The higher titers of antibodies against Puumala virus were detected in sera of 6 out of 75 patients. Serologic differentiation between Hantaan and Puumala infection in patients was based on the detection of higher antibody titers (4-fold or greater differences).