engleski

Prevalence of increased body weight and hypertension in the population of Croatian mainland and Adriatic islands – Are islanders really healthier?

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of the increased body weight and the hypertension between Croatian mainland and island population, based on the Croatian Adult Health Survey (N=9, 070) as an estimate for the mainland Croatian population, and &#8220; 1001 Dalmatian study&#8221; (N=1, 001) from four Adriatic islands ; Rab, Vis, Lastovo and Mljet. The prevalence of increased body mass index (BMI) and hypertension was calculated for the four age groups and analysed with chi-square test. The results indicated that men from the islands less frequently had normal BMI (P<0.001 ; age adjusted prevalence [AAP] was 28.3% vs. 37.6% for mainland), and were slightly more frequently obese than those from the mainland (P=0.279 ; AAP 21.0% vs. 19.2%, respectively). The prevalence of overweight and obesity was similar between the island and mainland women (AAP was 47.1% in islanders vs. 48.3% in mainland for normal BMI ; 20.4% vs. 19.3% for obesity). The prevalence of newly diagnosed hypertension was significantly higher among islanders in both genders (P<0.001 ; AAP was 37.6% in islanders vs. 24.0% in mainland for men, and 22.8% vs. 14.0% for women). Despite the traditionally prevalent Mediterranean diet and overall more favourable lifestyle, islanders may not be as healthy as previously studies suggested, in terms of cardiovascular risk factors prevalence. The possible reasons include difficulties in access to health care and lower interest for health, especially among men on the islands.

body mass index; hypertension prevalence; islands; mainland; Croatia

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