Guidelines are one thing, practice is another. With newer and newer guidelines, why can’t we manage to control modifiable cardiovascular risk factors?

Abstract

Summarizing WOBASZ studies, hypertension prevalence increased with age and gender adjustments. Despite a minor drop in awareness, treatment and control rates improved from past studies but remain inadequate. This underscores the urgent need for better awareness and treatment strategies to address hypertension effectively. The data on hyperlipidemia are very alarming. There is a critical need for more effective dyslipidemia prevention and treatment strategies. Over a decade, the WOBASZ Studies observed a 27% surge in diabetes prevalence. Additionally, there was a notable 50% increase in individuals with impaired fasting glucose. The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly in Poland over the last decade, particularly in men. It is concerning that every fourth inhabitant of Poland is now obese. Abdominal obesity is observed in every third man and nearly every second woman, with an excess of abdominal fat increasing in both sexes. Physical activity is another topic that requires significantly more attention as it is really insufficient among Polish population. Poland, regrettably, continues to be among the countries where the issue of smoking remains very much present, carrying with it not only health consequences but also socioeconomic implications. Data from WOBASZ studies indicate a significant gap between the perceived and actual nutritional adequacy among Polish individuals, underscoring the critical need for improved dietary practices. Addressing CVD prevention is a critical objective at both personal and societal levels, necessitating active engagement from healthcare professionals and policymakers. We propose a change, potentially somewhat controversial, in the approach to prevention and treatment.