Author/Editor     Zaletel-Kragelj, Lijana; Eržen, Ivan; Fras, Zlatko
Title     Interregional differences in health in Slovenia. 2. Estimated prevalence of selected behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular and related diseases
Type     članek
Source     Croat Med J
Vol. and No.     Letnik 45, št. 5
Publication year     2004
Volume     str. 644-50
Language     eng
Abstract     Aim. To estimate the prevalence of selected behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular and related diseases in western, central, and eastern region of Slovenia and to determine interregional differences. Mefhods. A national survey on health status and health behavior of the adult population included 15,379 Slovene inhabitants, aged 25 to 64. The overall response rate to a mailed questionnaire was almost 64%, and 9,043 questionnaires were eligible for analysis. Prevalence rates per 100 population (smoking, nutrition, alcohol intake, physical activity, stress) were determined, chi-square tes twas used for global assessrnent of interregional differences, and logistic regression for adjusting them for sex and age. Results. Interregional differences in prevalence were observed in very unhealthy nutrition related to obesity and diabetes (west: 34.0, center: 30.6, east: 41.8; p < 0.001), very unhealthy nutrition related to hypertension (west 25.5, center: 29.4, east:28.4; p=0.011), very unhealthy nutrition related to atherosclerosis-based diseases (angina pectoris, myocardial and brain infarction, etc.) (west: 33.1, center: 31.8, east: 44.1; p < 0.001), heavy alcohol drinking (west: 11.2, ceneer: 12.0, east: 15.2; p < 0.001), and physical inactivity (west: 18.0, center: 21.0, east: 15.3; p < 0.001), but not in srnoking (west: 22.4, center: 24.5, east: 23.9; p=0.230) or stress (west: 23.2, center: 24.4, east: 24.7; p=0.388). Conclusion. We confirmed significant interregional differences in the prevalence of most observed behavioral risk factors. In behaviors with statistically significant interregional differences, the highest prevalence was confirmed for eastern Slovenia.
Descriptors     CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
SMOKING
FOOD HABITS
ALCOHOL DRINKING
EXERCISE
STRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL
OBESITY
DIABETES MELLITUS
HYPERTENSION
PREVALENCE
QUESTIONNAIRES
SLOVENIA