[Social medicine, public health and governance for health]. / Sociální lékarství, verejné zdravotnictví a rízení péce o zdraví.

Social medicine, public health and governance for health have a long tradition in the Czech Republic but some problems persist. Possible solutions are reliable information, research, education and training. Action plans for Health 2020 implementation are appreciated as well as a valuable help of the WHO Country Office, Czech Republic.Key words: social medicine, public health, health, health governance, governance for health, Health 2020, World Health Organization.

[Health and tradecorporations]. / Zdraví a obchodní spolecnosti.

Health, determinants of health, health care, and health professionals in all countries are influenced by power of trade corporations. Singular interest of private corporate profits and businesses can affect health, such as the availability of tobacco, alcohol and others. Public health legislation and practice should consider the interests of the public and the importance of all health determinants.

[Governance for health]. / "Governance" pro zdraví lidí

New approaches to governance are driven by the changing nature of the challenges faced by 21st century societies. People, their health and capabilities are the key resources of a knowledge society. In the article the meaning of "governance for health" is explained and some methods of governance are presented. Governance for health will be implemented in the new European health policy - Health 2020.

[Public Health is an important tool of health care]. / Public health je dulezitým nástrojem rozvoje péce o zdraví

Public Health as the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts of society has a long tradition and promising results in the Czech Republic. In the contemporary financial and economic crisis Public Health in the CR does not use its potential. In the article some problems of Public Health in the CR are presented (e.g. terminology, finance, education and training). Possible solutions are outlined.

[Ninety years of education in Social Medicine at the Medical Faculty of Masaryk University in Brno]. / Devadesát let od zahájení výuky Sociálního lékarství na Lékarské fakulte MU v Brne.

The Department of Social Medicine at the Medical Faculty of Masaryk University was founded by Prof. Dr Frantisek Hamza. Prof. Dr Adolf Zácek, who worked in the World Health Organization in Geneva in 1961-1963, uses his knowledge and experiences to remarkable increasing quality of education and research at this department. Present situation in health care system in the Czech Republic demonstrates that there are great challenges for education and research in the field of Social Medicine.

[Perspectives of health care and system of health services]. / Perspektivy péce o zdraví a zdravotnictví.

Health services are more expensive year by year and chronic diseases are more frequent. It is obvious that coping with health problems predominantly in hospitals is not effective. That is why there are attempts to involve all people in health care. Article explains possibilities of health services rationing, importance of health literacy and social determinants of health. People and their health are key elements of any health care system and are important for successful social and economic development.

Prevalence and sociodemographic determinants of uninvestigated dyspepsia in the Czech Republic.

OBJECTIVE: There are no data on the epidemiology of dyspepsia in Central Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of uninvestigated dyspepsia in a representative sample of the Czech population. METHODS: A total of 2509 persons, aged 5-100 years, randomly selected from 30 012 individuals in the general population, entered this multicentre, prospective, questionnaire-based epidemiological study. RESULTS: We found a 17% prevalence of long-lasting (>12 months) dyspeptic symptoms in the general population. Two subgroups were distinguished: (i) persons with dyspepsia as the only one long-lasting symptom and themselves feeling otherwise healthy (9%), mostly among younger patients (subgroup A); and (ii) patients with dyspepsia as part of the complex of previously recognized diseases (8%), mostly in older patients (subgroup B). The prevalence of dyspepsia was significantly higher among women. The excess cases of dyspepsia among the highly educated seemed to be cases of dyspepsia of subgroup A, and the higher prevalence of dyspepsia among the lower social classes was largely dyspepsia of subgroup B. Being a widow/widower had a significant effect on the risk of self-reported dyspepsia among 25-64-year-olds. No association between Helicobacter pylori infection and dyspepsia was found. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of uninvestigated dyspepsia in the Czech Republic is comparable with data from other European countries. Clearly distinct subgroups of dyspeptic patients exist that should be further studied.

Body indices and basic vital signs in Helicobacter pylori positive and negative persons.

It has been hypothesized that Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection may contribute to reduced stature, risk of hypertension or obesity. The aim was to evaluate body indices in Hp positive and negative persons. A total of 2436 subjects (4-100 years old) were tested for Hp status by (13)C-urea breath test. Data on height and weight were collected for 84%, and blood pressure for 80% of the study subjects. The prevalence of Hp infection was 41.6%. The odds ratio for a 10-year increase in age was 1.21 (95% CI 1.17-1.25, p-value <0.001). Statistically significant negative association of Hp positivity with body height was most pronounced in the younger age groups, while a positive association of Hp positivity with body mass index was only seen in those aged 15+ years. There was a negative effect of Hp positivity on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in subjects below 25 and a relatively strong positive effect on blood pressure in subjects over 65 years. Residual confounding by social characteristics as a possible explanation for the associations of Hp positivity with height and blood pressure cannot be excluded. Unmeasured factors related to social and family environment may cause the apparent association between Hp positivity and children's growth and blood pressure.

Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Czech Republic.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection has been estimated to range from 60 to 95% in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate H. pylori infection prevalence in a representative sample of the Czech population. The second objective was to describe difference of H. pylori prevalence between different social groups of children and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2509 persons aged 5-100 years, randomly selected out of 30,012 persons of the general population, took part in the study. H. pylori infection was investigated by means of 13C-urea breath test. Breath samples were analyzed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Social and demographic characteristics were based on data from self-completed questionnaires. RESULTS: Using the total Czech population as a standard, we estimated the age-standardized prevalence of H. pylori in males aged 5+ years at 41.9% (95% CI 39.0%, 44.8%) and in females aged 5+ years at 41.4% (95% CI 38.6%, 44.3%) in 2001. Prevalence of H. pylori increased with age but was not related to gender. Children of mothers with basic or lower education, living in crowded accommodations, without access to running warm water, and residing in smaller towns appear to be at the highest risk. Low education and heavy smoking are most strongly associated with prevalence of H. pylori positivity in adults and adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: This is a unique study based on a representative sample of the general population in a Central European country. The overall prevalence of H. pylori is lower than previously assumed and could partly reflect a substantial recent decrease in H. pylori prevalence in the Czech Republic. Consistent with earlier studies, H. pylori infection is strongly influenced by socioeconomic conditions and childhood poverty.