Longitudinal trends in major cardiovascular risk factors in the Czech population between 1985 and 2007/8. Czech MONICA and Czech post-MONICA.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to assess longitudinal trends in major CV risk factors in a representative population sample of the Czech Republic.


METHODS
Three cross-sectional surveys of CV risk factors were conducted within the WHO MONICA project in six Czech districts in 1985 (n=2570), 1988 (n=2768), and 1992 (n=2343). In 1997/98, 2000/01, and 2007/08, another three screenings for CV risk factors (a 1% random sample, aged 25-64, mean age 45 years) were conducted in the six original districts (n=1990; 2055; and 2246, respectively).


RESULTS
Over a period of 22/23 years, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of smoking in males (from 45.0 to 30.5%; p<0.001) and no change in smoking habits in females. BMI increased in males and did not change in females. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in both genders, while the prevalence of hypertension declined only in females. Awareness of hypertension also rose as did the proportion of individuals treated by antihypertensive drugs in both genders. Hypertension control improved in either gender. A remarkable drop in total cholesterol was seen in both sexes (males: from 6.21 + or - 1.29 to 5.29 + or - 1.10 mmol/L; p<0.001; females: from 6.18 + or - 1.26 to 5.30 + or - 1.06 mmol/L; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The striking improvement in CV risk factors documented between 1985 and 2007/8 most likely contributed to the decrease in CV mortality in the Czech Republic.
Cífková
Renata
R
Department of Preventive Cardiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Vídenská 1958/9, 140 21 Prague 4, Czech Republic. recf@medicon.cz
Skodová
Zdenka
Z
Bruthans
Jan
J
Adámková
Vera
V
Jozífová
Marie
M
Galovcová
Markéta
M
Wohlfahrt
Peter
P
Krajcoviechová
Alena
A
Poledne
Rudolf
R
Stávek
Petr
P
Lánská
Vera
V
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018153:Czech Republic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors