engleski

Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Croatia: A Descriptive Analysis

Between 1995-1997 the First Croatian healthProject conducted survays on health attitudes, knowledge, behaviour and risks in the post-war Croatian population. The project included issues related to cardiovarcular risk factors. Study pupulation comprised 5, 840 adults from all 21 Croatian countries. The sample corresponds by age, sex and geographical distribution to thee general Croatian population. In addition to body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP), data on general knowledge and attitudes on health issues, smoking history, alcohol consumption, nutrition habits, and physical activity were collected. About 48% of men and 35% of women are overweight (BMI=25-29.99 kg/m2) and as many as 31% of men and 15% of women are severely ovaweight (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2).The overall prevalence of hypertension (systolic BP >or = 140 mmHg and diastolic BP > or = 90 mmHg) is about 32% in man and 24% in women. Prevalence of regular smokers is very high: 34% in men and 27% in women. The important regional differences have been observed in alcohol consumption, nutrition andl physical activity patterns. Most of the population is aware about the basic risk factors for cardiovascular diseases but there is a marked discrepancy between knowledge on health-related and health behaviour.

cardiovarcular risk factors; body mass index; blood pressure; Croatia

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