Assessment of Quality of Life, Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Serbian Children with Celiac Disease and their Parents.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the level of health-related quality of life (QoL) and presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in Serbian children with celiac disease from the perspective of patients and their parents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated the group of children and adolescents with celiac disease aged 5-18 y, and at least one parent of each patient with celiac disease. The patients and their parents were recruited at the Institute of Mother and Child Health of Serbia and the University Children's Hospital in Belgrade. The instruments used in this study were child-self and parent-proxy versions of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorder (SCARED) and Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ). Additional information was collected from the medical records of each patient. RESULTS: According to the PedsQL questionnaire, the quality of life was similarly assessed by both parents and their children (p > 0.05), as well as the presence of depressive symptoms according to MFQ questionnaire. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in the total score of the SCARED questionnaire for children and parents [total score (p < 0.05), panic-somatic disturbance (p < 0.01) and social anxiety (p < 0.01)]. CONCLUSIONS: The patients and their parents in Serbia have similarly assessed the quality of life of children with celiac disease, but the differences in the scores of SCARED questionnaire indicate that it is necessary to include both children and parents in the assessment of QOL.

FACTORS AND ESTIMATION OF RISK FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AMONG PATIENTS IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN CENTRAL SERBIA.

AIM: Cardiovascular diseases present major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world as well as in Central Serbia. The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency of risk factors and estimate risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: The database was collected from health records of the Health Centre in Kragujevac. The following parameters were observed: gender and age, smoking, anthropometrical measurements and Body Mass Index, the value of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, diabetes, levels of cholesterol, and triglycerids in blood serum. The estimation of risk for developing the fatal cardiovascular disease during the period of ten years is determined according to SCORE system model. The statistical package SPSS version 18.0 was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 1,053 people, 505 men and 548 women. 68.8% of people were overweight and obese, arterial hypertension was noted in 72.6%, and diabetes type II in 13.3% of people. 67.6% of people had a high level of total cholesterol in blood serum and 39.6% of people had a high level of triglycerids in blood serum. The metabolic syndrome was noted in 44.3%, and 3 or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease were noted in 65% of the population. We determined a significant statistic difference for age, smoking, nutritional status, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. CONCLUSION: The high incidence of potentially modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease gives a possibility to apply prevention measures for promotion and preservation of health.

[Influence of biometeorological phases on incidence of suicides].

AIM: To establish an influence of biometeorological phases on suicide incidence according to age, gender, settlement, week days, months in a year, ways of suicide execution, influence of biometeorologic phases on suicide execution. METHODS: Comparative analysis of the data about suicides (by years, months, week days, settlements, age, gender) obtained by the Police Department in Kragujevac for the 2004-2008 period and everyday biometeorological phases (phase 1 CWD: cyclone, warm, dry; phase 2 CWW: cyclone, warm, wet; phase 3 CWF: cyclone, warm front; phase 4 CCF: cyclone cold front; phase 5 CCW: cyclone, cold, wet; phase 6 CCD: cyclone, cold, dry; phase 7 ACD: anticyclone, cold, dry; phase 8 ACW: anticyclone, cold, wet; phase 9 AWD: anticyclone, warm, dry; phase 10 AWW: anticyclone, warm, wet) in Kragujevac determinated by the Republic Hydrometeorology Institute of Serbia. RESULTS: In the observed period there were 144 suicides resulting in the incidence rate of 14/100 000/ year. The highest number of suicides was noted in 2005 (36), and lowest one in 2007 (24). The most suicide cases happened in January and June (18 in each), and the fewest in August (7). Three quarters occurred in urban areas. Three quarters of victims were males mostly in the age groups 41-45 and 51-55 (11 in each). Females made one quarter of victims and most of them were in the age group 61-65 years (7). Total mean age was 54,66 years. Two thirds of all suicides were executed by hanging (93) (two thirds were among males), one sixth by firearms, with nine tenths ofmen. The most incidents with significant correlation were in biometheorological phases 4 and 9 (stable sunny weather and sudden impact of weather fronts, with sudden weather changes) (38 in each), which makes over a half of all suicides. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, it is strongly recommended to monitor everyday biometeorological forecast, and special attention must be paid to all persons with suicide tendencies.

[Scoliosis in school children aged from 7 to 8 and conditions in primaryand secondary schools in Kragujevac].

INTRODUCTION: Scoliosis, a lateral curvature of the spine, is the most frequent deformity of the spinal column. It is additionally aggravated by the inadequate environmental conditions in schools, such as unadjusted furniture, teaching aids and most of all, school bag and bad lighting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This investigation was carried out during the years 2005 and 2006 on the territory of the city of Kragujevac and included school children attending 22 primary and 8 secondary schools, whose medical records were obtained from school children health centres, the counseling centre for scoliosis at the Orthopedic Department of the Hospital in Kragujevac and the Institute of Public Health in Kragujevac. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of these data showed that a significantly higher number of children with scoliosis was detected in 2005, being -chi2 = 11.6, p < 0.01 for primary schools. Scoliosis was more frequent in girls than in boys: in 2005 it was -chi2 = 10.54, p < 0.01 and in 2006 -chi2 = 10.72, p < 0.01 in primary schools, whereas no difference was found in secondary schools in 2005 -chi2 = 4.14, p > 0.05, but in 2006 scoliosis was more frequent in girls -chi2 = 49.51, p < 0.01. CONCLUSION: Scoliosis is extremely important in both primary and secondary schools and therefore, it is necessary to intensify preventive systematic examinations of school children.