title: [The role of medical university in modern prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Examples from Medical University of Gdańsk].
abstract: Constant worsening of epidemiological situation in cardiovascular diseases in Poland in the 70's and 80's called for intensive measures in the field of preventive cardiology. Thus in 90's, in order to change this situation, among others, team from Department of Hypertension and Diabetology from Medical University of Gdańsk started, in cooperation with other medical universities, important regional and national research programs and preventive interventions. The aim of the educational program carried out in years 1999-2001 for Members of the Polish Parliament, opinion leaders and decision makers was to increase knowledge of the Polish elites about epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in our country. These actions made possible receiving greater support from the government for new epidemiological and preventive programs in this field. Thanks to NATPOL PLUS project, carried out on the representative sample of adults in 2002, we determined for the first time the prevalence and control of main cardiovascular risk factors in Poland. Results of this program helped planning preventive tasks in the National Cardiovascular Diseases Prevention and Treatment Program POLKARD 2003-2005. The aim of the preventive programmes: SOPKARD and Polish Four-Cities Project was to work out standards of modern, comprehensive interventions. They permitted planning and introduction of the largest preventive program: the Polish 400 Cities Project (PP400M). The PP400M is addressed to citizens of all small towns (to 8000 citizens) and surrounding villages in the whole country. All these accomplishments in the field of quickly expanded clinical epidemiology and cardiovascular prevention are directed mainly to Pomeranian and Polish citizens, especially those who are not aware of high risk of myocardial infarction or stroke. The main principle of our strategy is the role of university as an expert in preparation and supervision of the programs, which were carried out by the specialized organizations and firms such as PBS in Sopot. The second important component of our strategy was an intensive cooperation with other leading research centres in Poland that allowed taking advantage of the joint achievements.
authors.affiliation: Katedra Nadciśnienia Tetniczego i Diabetologii, Akademia Medyczna w Gdánsku. tzdroj@amg.gda.pl
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zdrojewski
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wierucki
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ignaszewska-Wyrzykowska
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarzeczna-Baran
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wojdak-Haasa
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mogilnaya
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narkiewicz
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szczech
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bandosz
authors.forename: Wiktor
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Januszko
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krupa-Wojciechowska
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wyrzykowski
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012380:Role; D014495:Universities