open access

Vol 10, No 5 (2006)
Original paper
Published online: 2006-09-13
Get Citation

Selected cardiovascular risk factors in primary care patients

Joanna Sulicka, Maria Fornal, Barbara Gryglewska, Barbara Wizner, Tomasz Grodzicki
Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2006;10(5):370-376.

open access

Vol 10, No 5 (2006)
Prace oryginalne
Published online: 2006-09-13

Abstract

Background Cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of mortality in Poland due to the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in population. The main goal of the presented study was to assess the prevalence of the major cardiovascular risk factors in patients visiting general practitioners.
Material and methods The study was performed in 256 units of primary care in Poland in 2004 and 2005. The study group consisted of all the patients visiting general practitioners during this period. They were asked to answer a questionnaire about age, health behaviors, concomitant diseases and family history of cardiovascular diseases. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and pulse measurements were taken, as well as laboratory strip tests for glucose.
Results 61 641 patients aged between 14 and 102 years were examined; 42% were men. 74% of patients were hypertensive, only 5.6% had optimal blood pressure < 120/80 mm Hg and "pre-hypertension" was diagnosed in 20,4% of patients. A half of study population was overweight, 25% of them were obese, 33,4% had visceral obesity. When referring to the latest definition of the metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity the number increased to 59%. Glucose >125 mg/dl has been measured in 7.5% of younger and 27% of older subjects. About 35% of younger and 13% of older patients were smokers.
Conclusions The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among the patients visiting general practitioners is much higher than in general population in Poland, which proves the importance of education programs in primary care units.

Abstract

Background Cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of mortality in Poland due to the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in population. The main goal of the presented study was to assess the prevalence of the major cardiovascular risk factors in patients visiting general practitioners.
Material and methods The study was performed in 256 units of primary care in Poland in 2004 and 2005. The study group consisted of all the patients visiting general practitioners during this period. They were asked to answer a questionnaire about age, health behaviors, concomitant diseases and family history of cardiovascular diseases. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and pulse measurements were taken, as well as laboratory strip tests for glucose.
Results 61 641 patients aged between 14 and 102 years were examined; 42% were men. 74% of patients were hypertensive, only 5.6% had optimal blood pressure < 120/80 mm Hg and "pre-hypertension" was diagnosed in 20,4% of patients. A half of study population was overweight, 25% of them were obese, 33,4% had visceral obesity. When referring to the latest definition of the metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity the number increased to 59%. Glucose >125 mg/dl has been measured in 7.5% of younger and 27% of older subjects. About 35% of younger and 13% of older patients were smokers.
Conclusions The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among the patients visiting general practitioners is much higher than in general population in Poland, which proves the importance of education programs in primary care units.
Get Citation

Keywords

primary care; national health screening study; cardiovascular risk factors; visceral obesity; older subjects

About this article
Title

Selected cardiovascular risk factors in primary care patients

Journal

Arterial Hypertension

Issue

Vol 10, No 5 (2006)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

370-376

Published online

2006-09-13

Page views

2916

Article views/downloads

8029

Bibliographic record

Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2006;10(5):370-376.

Keywords

primary care
national health screening study
cardiovascular risk factors
visceral obesity
older subjects

Authors

Joanna Sulicka
Maria Fornal
Barbara Gryglewska
Barbara Wizner
Tomasz Grodzicki

Regulations

Important: This website uses cookies. More >>

The cookies allow us to identify your computer and find out details about your last visit. They remembering whether you've visited the site before, so that you remain logged in - or to help us work out how many new website visitors we get each month. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change the settings of your browser to erase cookies or prevent automatic acceptance if you prefer.

By VM Media Group sp. z o.o., Grupa Via Medica, ul. Świętokrzyska 73, 80–180 Gdańsk

tel.:+48 58 320 94 94, faks:+48 58 320 94 60, e-mail: viamedica@viamedica.pl