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.)

Trends in the incidence of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes in Slovakia 1985 - 2000.

The aim of this work was to study and monitor the patterns in incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes in Slovakia. The incidence of type 1 diabetes per 100,000/year from 1985 to 2000 was determined in children 0 - 14 years old. A total of 1,818 cases were diagnosed during this time. Poisson regression models were used to study incidence trends. The overall incidence of type 1 diabetes varied from 5.62/100,000 per year in year 1986 to 14.46/100,000 in year 1998. This represents a 2.57-fold increase. The incidence increased with age and was the highest among children 10 - 14 years of age. The incidence of type 1 diabetes in Slovakia is increasing very dramatically, especially in age group 0 - 4 years.

Trends of childhood diabetes incidence in Slovakia 1985-2000: accelerated increase in the years 1990-2000.

BACKGROUND: A sudden rise in the incidence of childhood diabetes (DM 1) in Central and Eastern Europe over the last decade has been reported. AIM: To compare in Slovakia incidence trends in the 80s with those in the 90s. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The data from the Slovak Register of Diabetic Children diagnosed in 1985-2000 (n=1818) were divided into 6 groups according to sex and age at diagnosis (0-4, 5-9, 10-14). Trends were computed separately for 1985-1990 and 1990-2000. The 95% confidence estimates of linear regression coefficients and as percentages from the estimated starting values in 1985 and 1990, were calculated by the linear regression based on statistical inferential approach. RESULTS: Non-significant increasing or decreasing trends were found in 6 gender/age groups 1985-1990. In the 90s, however, significantly increasing trends were present in each of 6 groups. They were significant (p<0.05) in the male groups and in the total of all cases. The overall incidence rise (+0.03 cases per 100000 children per year) was nonsignificant in the 80s but significant in the 90s (+0.63/100000/year). As a result, the incidence rate of childhood diabetes in Slovakia rose from 6.01 new cases per 100000 children per one year in 1985 to 13.53/100000/year in 2000. CONCLUSION: The overall DM 1 incidence increaseed from the 1980s (80s) to the 1990s (90s), expressed in the number of new cases, is more than a 20-fold absolutely and almost 10-fold in relative terms. This was not due to an improvement in diagnosis in 1990s. Both the gender and age heterogeneity were present. (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 25.).

[Extensive basocellular carcinoma of the abdominal wall]. / Rozsáhlý basocelulární karcinom steny brisní.

A rare case of extensive invasive basilioma of the abdominal wall in a 65-year-old female patient was treated by resection of the affected wall in its entire width and reconstruction by mobilizing the peritoneum and an extended inguinal flap. In combination with a simple appliance an adequately firm wall was established for complete social rehabilitation of the patient.