[The comparative evaluation of heterogeneity of urban and rural population aging at the regional level].

The article considers the process of population aging, which is evidently specific in economically developed countries for last quarter of the XX century. The increasing of population size older than able-bodied age in urban and rural population in the Irkutsk Oblast that is demonstrated by aging coefficient dynamic. In all studied territories increasing of this coefficient is revealed that characterizes transition of aging process in most areas of residence of urban and rural population to the level of III-IV stages (old and deeply old population). The dynamics of average age indicator is characterized by its stabilization at the level of stage II as aging population. The pensionary load on urban and rural population is increasing and it is higher in rural population. The increasing of this indicator is reflected in transformation of aging population (stage II) to old and deeply old population (stage III-IV). In most areas, coefficient of longevity is characterized by its increase in urban and rural population. The heterogeneity of aging differences between urban and rural population is smoothing out.

[The inclusive tourism: main approaches and directions of investigation: publications review].

The article presents review of research publications concerning inclusive tourism, i.e. tourism of individuals with health limited capacities or disability. The Russian scientific electronic library (eLibrary) was used as a basis of this theoretical methodological study. The content analysis methodology was applied to more than 36 million publications. The sampling for studying included 242 publications considering economical, medical and psychological pedagogical aspects of inclusive tourism as sociocultural phenomenon.

Epidemiology of risk factors and estimating 10-year probability of osteoporotic fractures in the Russian Federation.

In assessing the risk of fractures, an important role is played by risk factors (RFs), the prevalence of which must be known among residents with different types of settlement in order to plan preventive measures in risk groups for fractures. Prevalence RFs varied depending on constituent entities and the settlement type. PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of osteoporotic fractures (OPF) RFs and estimate absolute risk (AR) of OPF among urban vs rural residents of the Russian Federation. METHODS: In total, 13,391 Russian women and men 40-69 years old from 12 regions participated in the study. Groups of urban (n = 12,237) and rural (n = 1154) subjects were comparable in terms of their age. Participants were interviewed using a standard modular questionnaire. AR of OPF was calculated using the Russian FRAX model. Age-dependent diagnostic and therapeutic intervention thresholds (DIT, TIT) were employed to stratify AR of OPF. RESULTS: Among the OPF RFs, the most common were as follows: previous OPF (16.3%), causes of secondary osteoporosis (20.8%), and current smoking (17.9%). The frequencies of previous OPF and alcohol abuse in rural men were higher than in urban male residents. Urban women, compared with rural females, were characterized by such more frequent RFs as smoking and glucocorticoids' intake. AR increased with age and prevailed in women, compared with men, regardless of their age, region of residence, and settlement type. According to TIT, the frequency of high AR of major OPF in the sample was 7.0%. According to DIT, high, medium, and low AR of major OPF was detected in 3.1%, 42.2%, and 54.7% of participants, respectively. Among urban women compared with rural females, high AR of major OPF was more often detected (p < 0.05), using TIT, whereas there was no such pattern for men. We discovered the territorial variability of RFs and OPF AR. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of OPF RFs varied in Russia depending on age, gender, constituent entities, and the settlement type. Our data have demonstrated the typical age-gender causation pattern of OPF AR. Over 40% of participants required densitometry and fracture risk reclassification.

Epidemiologic characteristics of Helicobacter pylori infection in southeast Hungary.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies have revealed a decrease in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Western Europe. AIM: To obtain data regarding the prevalence of H. pylori in Csongrád and Békés Counties in Hungary, evaluate the differences in its prevalence between urban and rural areas, and establish factors associated with positive seroprevalence. METHODS: One-thousand and one healthy blood donors [male/female: 501/500, mean age: 40 (19-65) years] were enrolled in this study. Subjects were tested for H. pylori IgG antibody positivity via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subgroup analysis by age, gender, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and urban vs non-urban residence was also performed. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity of H. pylori was 32%. It was higher in males (34.93% vs 29.2%, P = 0.0521) and in rural areas (36.2% vs 27.94%, P = 0.0051). Agricultural/industrial workers were more likely to be positive for infection than office workers (38.35% vs 30.11%, P = 0.0095) and rural subjects in Békés County than those in Csongrád County (43.36% vs 33.33%, P = 0.0015). CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of H. pylori infection decreased in recent decades in Southeast Hungary, it remains high in middle-aged rural populations. Generally accepted risk factors for H. pylori positivity appeared to be valid for the studied population.

Spectrum of neurological disorders in neurology outpatients clinics in urban and rural Sindh, Pakistan: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Neurological disorders are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Available evidence on urban-rural differences on neurological diseases is scare in such countries. Our study objective was to determine the prevalence of neurological diseases in urban and rural tertiary care hospitals of Sindh, Pakistan. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study conducted in selected urban and rural region of tertiary care hospitals of Sindh, Pakistan. The outpatients medical records of adults (18 years and above) was obtained from January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2014. RESULTS: A total of 10,786 outpatients visit were recorded in this period. Mean age of the participants was 40.6 ± 15 years; majority was females 6104 (56.6%). About three-fourth of the patients were from rural hospital 7828 (72.6%). Common neurological diseases were headache disorders 3613 (33.4%), nerve and root lesion 2928 (27.1%), vascular diseases 1440 (13.3%), epilepsies 566 (5.2%), muscle disorders 424 (3.9%), psychiatric disorders 340 (3.1%) and CNS infection 303 (2.8%). Comparison between the urban and rural samples showed that ischaemic stroke (72.7% vs. 82%) and psychiatric disorders (2.1% vs. 3.5%) were more prevalent in rural area as compared to urban setting. CONCLUSION: Stroke, headache and nerve and root lesion are major causes of neurological disorders in urban and rural settings of Sindh, Pakistan. The policy and planning must be focus on primary care, preventive measures and the promotion of health.

Inequalities in breast cancer incidence and stage distribution between urban and rural female population in Swietokrzyskie Province, Poland.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: One of the main factors determining the burden of breast cancer is the effectiveness of measures taken to combat this cancer including urban-rural differences. The aim of the study was to analyse the differences in breast cancer incidence and disease stage distribution among urban and rural women in the Swietokrzyskie Province as a part of a strategy for breast cancer control. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study of disease stage distribution included 483 female residents of Swietokrzyskie Province who were diagnosed in 2013 with invasive breast cancer, and reported to Swietokrzyskie Office for Cancer Registration. Urban-rural differences in breast cancer incidence in 2002-2013 were presented using Range Ratio (RR). Changes in incidence trends in urban and rural areas were analysed using joinpoint models. Annual Percentage Change (APC) of the rates was calculated for each time trend. RESULTS: Breast cancer incidence rate in the urban female population was higher than in rural women with RR, amounting to 1.43. However, the analysis of trends showed that the pace and direction of change were developing negatively among inhabitants of rural areas. In 2002-2013, in rural women, the age-standardized rate (ASR) values increased by 2.8% per year (p<0.05). The course of ASR trends showed statistically significant urban-rural differences (p=0.004). Analysis of urban-rural differences in disease stage distribution revealed a non-significantly higher proportion of cases with localised stage in urban than in rural areas, amounting to 51.0% and 43.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Existing health inequalities indicate the need to intensify activities in rural areas and should be the starting point for making key decisions in combating breast cancer.

Factores de riesgo para hidatidosis en estudiantes de enseñanza media de la comuna de Punitaqui, Chile / Risk factors for hydatid disease in high school students in the district of Punitaqui, Chile

Background: Hydatidosis is an endemic zoonosis in different areas of Chile, including the Region of Coquimbo, this is linked to the slaughter of cattle and presence of dogs. Objective: To identify risk factors related to hydatidosis in the home of high school students of Punitaqui. Material: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done by the application of a self-administered questionnaire to 274 students of high school. The information was analyzed by urban/rural area in five dimensions: knowledge, basic sanitation, keeping dogs, vegetable growing and cattle slaughtering and possession. Results: 84.6% of urban students reported not having received hydatidosis education. In rural areas, 93.5% reported owning dogs, with an average of 2.95 dogs/home (p < 0.001). In urban areas 44.4% of the dogs had not been dewormed and 60.3% (p < 0.001) was fed with viscera in rural areas. The 66.2% of cattle were goats and sheep and 64.5% (p < 0.001) of rural households did slaught. The main way to eliminate viscera was feeding the dogs. Conclusions: Risk factors that favor the presence of the parasite were present in relation to keeping dogs and cattle breeding and slaughter, which occurred mostly in rural areas, but being also present in urban areas.

Introducción: La hidatidosis es una zoonosis endémica en diferentes zonas de Chile y en la Región de Coquimbo, ligada a la faena de ganado y presencia de perros. Objetivo: Identificar factores de riesgo relacionados con hidatidosis en hogares de estudiantes de enseñanza media de la comuna de Punitaqui. Material: Se realizó un estudio transversal, descriptivo, aplicándose un cuestionario auto-administrado a 274 estudiantes de enseñanza media. Se analizó según zona urbana/rural en cinco dimensiones: conocimientos, saneamiento básico, tenencia de perros, cultivo de vegetales y, tenencia y faena de ganado. Resultados: El 84,6% de los estudiantes urbanos manifestó no haber recibido educación sobre hidatidosis. En zonas rurales, 93,5% señaló poseer perros, promediando 2,95 perros/vivienda (p < 0,001) y 60,3% (p < 0,001) era alimentado con vísceras. En zonas urbanas, 44,4% de los perros no había sido desparasitado. El 66,2% del alumnado declaró poseer ganado caprino y ovino y 64,5% (p < 0,001) de hogares rurales faenaba. La eliminación de vísceras era destinada principalmente para alimentación de perros. Conclusiones: Se presentaron factores de riesgo que favorecen la presencia del parásito, relacionados a la tenencia de perros y crianza y faena de ganado, los que fueron mayoritarios en sectores rurales siendo igualmente altos en zonas urbanas.

Cardiovascular risk assessment between urban and rural population in Malaysia

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) caused significant burden to Malaysia as it accounted for 36% of total deaths. This study aims to evaluate the burden of cardiovascular risk factors among Malaysian adult and assess the difference between urban and rural population in the selected communities. Methods: This study is part of the ongoing Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) database, whereby the baseline data were collected since June 2008. CVD risk was measured using INTERHEART risk score which comprised of eleven risk factors i.e. age and gender, family history of heart attack, smoking status, exposure to second hand smoke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension status, waist-hip ratio, self-reported stress, depression, dietary habits and physical activity status. Results: Majority of the studied participants had low cardiovascular risk (57%). Participants from rural area were generally older, had lower educational status, higher prevalence of smokers, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and more likely to be depressed. In comparison, urbanites had lower physical activities and more likely to be stressful. Mean INTERHEART score among rural participants were higher, especially for male, in comparison to urbanite (11.5±5.83 vs. 10.01±5.74, p<0.001). Conclusion: Contradict to common beliefs, participants in rural areas generally have higher cardiovascular risk factors compared to their urban counterparts. The rural population should be targeted for focused preventive interventions, taking account the socioeconomic and cultural context.