Trends in hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control among Polish adults 75 years and older during 2007-2014.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess changes in the prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension and its effectiveness between 2007 (WOBASZ Senior study) and 2013-2014 (WOBASZ II) in a sample of the Polish population over the age of 75 years. METHODS: Sampling had three stages, stratified according to voivodeships, type of community, and gen-der. Finally, the WOBASZ II study included 467 persons (290 women and 177 men). For a comparison of the data, 1096 persons (538 women and 554 men) examined in the WOBASZ Senior study were used. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly decreased from 153.0 ± 23.9 mmHg to 142.9 ± 22.3 mmHg and from 85.2 ± 11.9 mmHg to 78.4 ± 11.3 mmHg, respectively, from 2007 to 2014 (p < 0.0001). Prevalence of hypertension among people included in WOBASZ studies slightly decreased from 83.8% to 77.9% (rate ratio [RR]: 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-1.16) in men, and from 75.4% to 71.8% (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.8-1.09) in women. Hypertension awareness was improved from 59.2% to 72.9% (RR: 1.23; 95% CI: 0.97-1.56) in men, and from 74,8% to 93% (RR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.01-1.58) in women. The proportion of men and women, with implemented hypertension treatment, increased from 48.4% to 61.1% (RR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.01-1.58), and from 63.2% to 82.0% (RR: 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.53), respectively. The effectiveness of the treatment was improved over two-fold, there was an increase from 10.3% to 26.8% (RR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.81-3.89) in men, and from 13.8% to 33.5% in women (RR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.81-3.3). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hypertension in Polish seniors remains high, but has decreased slightly in the perspective of the last 7 years. Although treatment and control has improved over the last decade, it remains below expectations. Efforts to improve the diagnosis and effective treatment of hypertension in Polish seniors should be intensified.

Rheumatic diseases induced by drugs and environmental factors: the state-of-the-art - part two.

The majority of rheumatic diseases belong to the group of autoimmune diseases and are associated with autoantibody production. Their etiology is not fully understood. Certain medications and environmental factors may have an influence on the occurrence of rheumatic diseases. Establishing a cause-effect relationship between a certain factor and disease induction is not always simple. It is important to administer the drug continuously or monitor exposure to a given factor in the period preceding the onset of symptoms. The lack of early diagnosed autoimmune disease, or finally the lack of symptoms within a few weeks/months after discontinuation of the drug/cessation of exposure, is also important. The most frequently mentioned rheumatic diseases caused by drugs and environmental factors include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma, systemic vasculitis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and Sjögren's syndrome. The objective of this study is to summarize current knowledge on rheumatic diseases induced by drugs and environmental factors.

Rheumatic diseases induced by drugs and environmental factors: the state-of-the-art - part one.

The majority of rheumatic diseases belong to the group of autoimmune diseases and are associated with autoantibody production. Their etiology is not fully understood. Certain medications and environmental factors may have an influence on the occurrence of rheumatic diseases. Establishing a cause-effect relationship between a certain factor and disease induction is not always simple. It is important to administer the drug continuously or monitor exposure to a given factor in the period preceding the onset of symptoms. The lack of previously diagnosed autoimmune disease, or finally the lack of symptoms within a few weeks/months after discontinuation of the drug/cessation of exposure, is also important. The most frequently mentioned rheumatic diseases caused by drugs and environmental factors include systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, systemic vasculitis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and Sjögren's syndrome. The objective of this study is to summarize current knowledge on rheumatic diseases induced by drugs and environmental factors.

Multi-centre National Population Health Examination Survey (WOBASZ II study): assumptions, methods, and implementation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Despite the progress in diagnostics and treatment, it is expected that CVD will still be the main cause of death worldwide until at least 2030. From 1991 CVD mortality in Poland systematically decreased, but it is still higher than the average in Western Europe. In 2013 CVDs were the cause of 46% of all deaths in Poland (40.9% in men and 51.1% in women) and 26.9% of deaths among persons under 65 years of age. The epidemiologic assessment of prevalence, control and treatment of CVD risk factors, and monitoring of healthy behaviour and morbidity due to diseases like coronary artery disease, hypertension and diabetes is very important for health policy planning. The WOBASZ II is the newest Polish population based survey, performed in 2013-2014 to evaluate prevalence, control, treatment, and morbidity. The study was the continuation of WOBASZ (2003-2005). AIM: To describe the goals and methods of the WOBASZ II study and to present the results of the recruitment. METHODS: The WOBASZ II study was planned as a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of Polish residents aged over 20 years. The selection, using the National Identity Card Registry of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, was made as a three-stage sampling, stratified according to administrative units (voivodeships), type of urbanisation (commune), and gender. The study protocol consisted of a questionnaire used in face-to-face interviews, physical examination, and blood samples. WOBASZ II was coordinated by the Department of Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion of the Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw in cooperation with medical universities in Gdansk, Katowice, Krakow, Lodz, and Poznan. RESULTS: Out of 15,120 persons, 1557 persons were not eligible. Out of eligible persons, 6170 (2760 men and 3410 women) were examined (the response rate 45.5%). The highest response rates were observed in Warminsko-Mazurskie (64.2%), Zachodniopomorskie (58.1%), and Kujawsko-Pomorskie (53.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The importance of the WOBASZ study for the monitoring of the health state of Polish society, and for the as-sessment of prophylaxis efficiency and treatment of CVD and metabolic diseases, as well as for the evaluation of the actions in the field of health promotion, is difficult to overstate.