Background Hypertension, dyslipidaemia, abdominal obesity, diabetes mellitus and tobacco smoking are the main cardiovascular risk factors and the most important causes of hospitalization and mortality, which in Poland are 1.5–3 times higher as those in the EU countries. The worst epidemiological situation concerns small town and village communities, people with low social and economic status and middle-aged men. In view of the facts presented above, the main objective of the Polish 400 Cities Project (PP400M) is to improve detection and control of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, glucose metabolism disorders and to reduce the rate of tobacco-smoking in small town (< 8000 citizens) and village communities, especially among men and lowereducated people.
Material and methods Pilot-scheme survey of PP400M were implemented the following Polish regions: pomorski, małopolski, wielkopolski. Screening-examination consisted of: questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, cholesterol and glucose level blood tests. Surveys were carried out on the 5171 people aged between 18 and 92 (the mean of age - 55.6), both genders. The study was preceded by promotional and informative program.
Results Among all examined patients 36% had earlier detected arterial hypertension, 30% had new detected elevated blood pressure. In patients from this group, who came to the next visit, arterial hypertension was diagnosed in 75% (according to JNC 7). Overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) were found in 69% of examined persons. Abdominal obesity was observed in 43.5% of examined people. Elevated cholesterol level (> 190 mg%) had 74% of patients, 85% of them did not know about it. High glucose level was detected in 32% of examined persons, but only every fifth person had known about it. Tobacco smoking was declared by 15% of women and 23% of men.
Conclusions 1. Medical screening investigation confirms very high widespread and low detection rate of cardiovascular risk factors in small towns. 2. Statistics of subjects applied to screening examination show needs to intensify marketing and education activities in group of middle-aged men. 3. The data from pilot-scheme survey of PP400M confirms that decision to prepare and implement the Project in small towns was correct.