Prevalence of risk factors in cardiovascular diseases in selected population of the Czech Republic.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to describe current prevalence of selected risk factors in the Czech general population in a particular region and to compare the data with recently published results in the selected population of Czech soldiers. The work also deals with the advantages and disadvantages of methods determining overweight and obesity. METHODS: Within medical preventive examinations the data of 1,051 individuals (482 men, 569 women) were obtained. In this group anthropometric parameters such as height, body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and waist circumference were monitored. From biochemical parameters the following values were monitored: glycaemia, uric acid, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. Demographic data such as age, gender and achieved education were processed. RESULTS: Average BMI values in men were in the overweight range. Monitored average BMI values in women were up to standards. Monitored anthropometric parameters significantly increased with the age of examined individuals. The highest values of BMI and waist circumference were found in the over-50 age group. Selected biochemical parameters also increased with the age of examined individuals. Education did not have significant influence on the values of selected parameters. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the values of BMI and waist circumference. The correlation coefficient in men was r = 0.804, p < 0.001, and in women r = 0.858, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: The work confirmed differences in anthropometric parameters between the civilian and military Czech male population due to a higher muscle mass percentage in the military population. The work also confirmed the significance of further anthropometric methods in diagnostics of overweight and obesity. The number of individuals with anthropometric and biochemical parameters out of the physiological range is increasing in the over-50 age category.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in professional soldiers of the Czech Army over an 11-year period.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Obesity is currently considered to be the most frequent metabolic disease worldwide, not only in developed but also in developing countries. The aim of this work was to describe the development of health status in soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (ACR) and to emphasizethe markers of non-communicable diseases. Our study describes the anthropometric and biochemical parameters of a large group of Czech Army professional soldiers. Data were obtained over a period of 11 years. METHODS: During the monitored period, from 1999 to 2009, military physicians carried out on the average 6,360 examinations on professional soldiers per year and monitored their health and nutritional status with the aim of preventing the risk factors of non-communicable diseases. These examinations are compulsory for all professional soldiers at the age of 25, 30, 33, and 36 years. From the age of 39, these examinations are carried out every year till the end of their career. Besides taking personal histories and carrying out standard physical examinations, blood was taken for biochemical examination. The following anthropometric parameters were monitored: body constitution using body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Our study describes only part of the data concerning anthropometric and biochemical parameters of professional soldiers which were obtained over a period of 11 years. RESULTS: Average BMI values in men were in the overweight range (26.5-27 kg/m2). Average values of waist circumference, however, ranged from 91.9 cm to 93.4 cm. Between the first and the last year of monitoring a statistically significant decrease in these values ranging from 93.4 ± 9.8 cm to 92.7 ± 9.5 cm (p < 0.001) was observed. All monitored anthropometric parameters in female professional soldiers were within normal limits. During the monitored period the proportion of overweight men gradually increased from 52% to 57.1% (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in the prevalence of obesity in men (12-15%). Average glycaemia levels were within normal range in both men and women. A statistically significant decrease in these levels, however, was observed in men (from 5.1 ± 0.9 mmol/L to 4.8 ± 0.7 mmol/L (p < 0.001) and in women (from 4.9 ± 0.6 mmol/L to 4.6 ± 0.6 mmol/L (p < 0.001). Concerning the lipid profile in men, a significant decrease in average values of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol was observed; from 5.5 ± 1.1 mmol/L to 5.1 ± 1.0 mmol/L (p < 0.001), from 2.0 ± 1.6 mmol/L to 1.6 ± 1.2 mmol/L (p < 0.001) and from 3.4 ± 1.1 mmol/L to 3.2 ± 0.9 mmol/L (p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: During the monitored period only one-third of military professionals had normal body weight. More favorable situation was in female professional soldiers, two-thirds of them had normal body weight during the monitored period. Additionally, the increase in the number of individuals with BMI values in the overweight range was observed. Although the number of overweight soldiers was overestimated as a result of the inclusion of individuals with increased body weight due to well-developed musculature, the number of overweight and obese soldiers is still high.