[Obesity related increase in diseases in Hungary studied by the Health Interview Survey 2009]. / Elhízással összefüggo morbiditásnövekedés az Országos Lakossági Egészségfelmérés alapján (2009).

UNLABELLED: Obesity is one of the major health problems at present and it will also be in the future. AIM: To assess the proportion of obesity-related diseases in the Hungarian population above 18 years of age. METHOD: The survey was conducted via internet. 1,000 subjects inform various subregions of Hungary were asked to fill in the questionnaire. The obtained data were grouped according to gender and age in overweight, lean and normal weight subjects. Additional diseases were assessed using odds ratios with 95% probability. Data from overweight subjects were compared to those obtained from subjects with a body mass index lower than 25 kg/m2. RESULTS: 27,746 filled in questionnaires from 2,597 subregions were analysed. 46.3% of the responders were males and 53.7% were females. The disease rate among females was higher compared to males. The occurrence of diseases increased with age. In overweight subjects the odds ratios for several diseases were substantially increased (diabetes, 3.9; hypertension, 2.9; cardiovascular diseases, 1.69; arthralgia, 1.68; and cervical, dorsal and lumbar pain, 1.35). CONCLUSION: Obesity related additional diseases merit a high concern nowadays. Taking into consideration the tendency of obesity in children, there is a need to put higher emphasis to primary prevention.

[Drug consumption and frequency of falls in a one-year follow-up study among nursing home residents in Hungary]. / Gyógyszerfogyasztás és esésgyakoriság egyéves nyomon követéses vizsgálatban, szociális otthonban lakók körében.

UNLABELLED: The social and economic burden of falls among elderly is quite high in our time. Due to demographic changes the problem still persists. Across Europe great emphasis is laid on injury prevention among elderly. The authors accomplished a survey regarding the frequencies and causes of falls among the citizens of nursing homes within the frame of a EU program. AIM: The aim of the survey was not only to register the frequency of falls, but to reveal their background, regarding especially medicine consumption. METHODS: A year-long survey was accomplished among 1016 inhabitants of two nursing homes with a standard questionnaire. During this period, the nursing personnel recorded every fall, their circumstances and consequences. Among the causes, beside environmental factors, medicine use is a high risk factor. The latter was evaluated according to effects and side-effects related to falls, based on their trademark labels. Statistical program SPSS 14.0 was used. RESULTS: Among the inhabitants of the two nursing homes 1013 falls happened during the 12 months. Two third of these required some degree of medical care afterwards. The most frequent cases were contusions, bruises or skin injuries (20-24%). Fractures happened in 4.8%, 3% of them at femoral neck, 1.8% at other bones. Almost every inhabitant uses medicine, 19% of them 3 or less sorts, the majority many times more. The maximal kind of medicine taken by one person was 19, the average is 6 types per person. The maximal number of side-effects related to falls per person was 43, the average was 14. The aggregation of side-effects is presented in detail. CONCLUSIONS: The number and proportion of falls among elderly living in nursing homes is remarkable. One probable cause of this should be the elevated medicine consumption, with numerous side-effects which raise the risk of falls.

Mobile phone ownership and use among school children in three Hungarian cities.

In spite of rapid worldwide increase in mobile phone use and public concerns about associated potential health effects, little is known about patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in the general population and among children. In April 2005, we conducted a survey of mobile phone ownership and use among fourth grade school children in three Hungarian cities. From 24 schools, 1301 student filled out a short, self-administered questionnaire on basic demographics, mobile phone ownership, pattern of mobile phone use, and after-school activities. Overall, 989 students (76%) owned a mobile phone. Three hundred thirteen students (24%) used a mobile phone daily to make phone calls, and an additional 427 students (33%) used mobile phones for phone calls at least several times per week. Sixty-six students (5%) sent text messages daily and an additional 308 students (24%) sent text messages at least several times per week. Girls, children with no siblings, children who were members of a sport club, and children who played computer games daily were more likely to own and use mobile phones regularly. A higher number of socially disadvantaged children in a class predicted lower likelihood of regular mobile phone use among children. Our results suggest that mobile phone ownership and regular use is highly prevalent among school children in Hungary. Due to rapid changes in ownership patterns follow up surveys will be required to obtain information on temporal trends and changes in mobile phone ownership and pattern of use among school children.

[Roma colonies in Hungary--medical care of children and hygienic conditions]. / Romatelepek magyarországon--gyermekek egészségügyi ellátása, higiénés viszonyok.

INTRODUCTION: The hygienic conditions and the public health safety of the Hungarian Roma living in colonies are poorly known, the health care of Romany children is often subject to criticism. AIM: The authors aim was to identify the blank areas present in public health and to analyze the medical care of children living in Gipsy colonies. METHODS: Medical care of children living in Gipsy colonies in Hungary and the hygienic situation of these colonies have been analyzed. The examinations, performed by the staff of the National Public Health and Medical Officers' Service included all counties and the capital. Data were gathered from answers given to the questions in the circular sent by the Chief Medical Officer of State, by questionnaire-interview method as well as, by on site hygienic examination. Data from the series of examinations were completed by the data of the National Institute for Basic Medical Care. RESULTS: According to the hygienic definition of Romany colonies, there are 767 colonies in Hungary, scattered in 530 habitats, while according to the definition of availability of public utilities and structure of the colonies the number of colonies is 300-400. There are no Romany colonies in the capital, while most of them are located in the counties Hajdú-Bihar, Baranya, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén. A population of 3 million is living in the habitats with Romany colonies; 138000 (4,7%) of them are living in Romany colonies, or in colony-like communities with similar hygienic situation. In these habitats 5,8% and 16,3% of the population are children of 0-5 years old and 0-14 years old, respectively, while in the colonies the same numbers are 15,8% and 35,6%. Medical care is provided by 456 family pediatrist for the the habitats with Romany colonies. Consulting hours for the children population of 11,4% of the family doctors seems to be insufficient (< 15 hours/day/5 days/week). Only 60% of care for children is provided by specialist in pediatrics. 94% of emergency care for children is provided for family doctors of the adult population (this proportion is characteristic for the whole country). 12,5% of district nurses caring for the colonies provide care for more than 2 habitats; 147 of them (22% of all district nurses) provide care for more than 750 persons (experiences show that appropriate care can be ensured if the number of care recipients does not exceed 300 and the maximum number of settlements under care is two). Illegal waste deposits and animal carcase disposal site are located within 1000 m of 15% and 11% of the colonies, respectively. Most of the dwelling sites are messy, hygienically neglected, rodents and unvaccinated stray dogs are frequently met in their neighborhood. CONCLUSIONS: 1. sufficiently accurate data are not available on the Gipsy colonies (number, location, population, children population), partly due to the related different definitions and partly because this issue of public health importance is not treated uniformly. The repeated examinations of the National Public Health and Medical Officers' Service presented here only improved the relevant information; 2. child health care of the Gipsy colonies does not differ from that of the rest of the Hungarian children, but similarly to that, a lot of corrections are needed--especially regarding the emergency service; 3. the hygienic situation of the Gipsy colonies is not acceptable, it endangers the public health and epidemiological safety of not only their inhabitants, but the whole country.