title: Status of cardiovascular health in a transition European country: findings from a population-based cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to assess the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) in the adult population of Republic of Srpska (RS), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its relationship with socio-demographic characteristics of participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 4,170 adults (mean age 50.2 years; 54 % women) from the National Health Survey performed from September to November 2010 in RS. Population prevalence of CVH health metrics (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, diet, cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose) were estimated according to the American Heart Association criteria for "ideal", "intermediate", and "poor" levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 0.02 % participants had ideal (all 7 health metrics at ideal levels), 7.6 % intermediate, and 92.4 % poor (at least one metric at poor level) CVH. The fasting glucose was the most prevalent (75.9 %), whereas the healthy diet was the least prevalent (4.4 %) ideal CVH metric.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates extremely low prevalence of ideal and high prevalence of poor CVH in the adult RS population. Such alarming results require urgent action. Comprehensive public health strategies and interventions must be developed to assist individuals and population in improving their CVH.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Višegradska 26, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia, slavenkaj@gmail.com.
authors: Slavenka
authors: S
authors: Janković
authors: Dragana
authors: D
authors: Stojisavljević
authors: Janko
authors: J
authors: Janković
authors: Miloš
authors: M
authors: Erić
authors: Jelena
authors: J
authors: Marinković
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult