Central European Journal of Public Health - Latest articles
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Unusual occurrence of temporo-spatial cluster of human prion disease in northern part of central SlovakiaLetter to the Editor
Pavol Skáčik, Štefan Sivák, Egon Kurča
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):67-68 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8670 
Objectives: Clusters of human prion diseases have been reported in several endemic regions, notably in Slovakia, Italy, Chile, and Israel, predominantly linked to genetic forms (E200K mutation). Isolated temporo-spatial clusters that include sporadic forms are rarely documented and remain poorly understood. This report describes a unique cluster of prionopathies observed in northern central Slovakia. Methods: Between July 2021 and March 2022, three definitive cases of prion disease were identified in two neighbouring rural villages, Pribovce and Rakovo, in the Martin District of Slovakia. The villages, located within a radius of approximately three...
Degree of fatigue in individual parts of the body of professional tree climbers after the performance of their work – a survey
Luboš Staněk
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):59-66 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8381
Objectives: Work of an arborist – tree climbing – is a dangerous activity associated with great physical effort, influenced by incorrect body posture and significantly stressed individual parts of the body. This research was initiated with the objective to draw attention to this hitherto little explored issue connected with ergonomics of the work of tree climbers. The goal of the research was to gather information about the fatigue of individual parts of the human body in professional tree climbers who access trees using so-called rope techniques (ascent to the tree crown, movement in the tree crown, descent from the tree crown) by means...
Atherosclerosis and dementia development: an epidemiological case-control study
Veronika Koutná, Ladislav Štěpánek, Martina Kovalová, Ondřej Machaczka, Petr Ambroz, Anna Zatloukalová, Eva Mrázková, Michal Bar, Martin Roubec, Petra Bártová, Richard Novobilský, Martin Sabela, Pavlína Kušnierová, David Stejskal, Lucie Faldynová, Sylwia Walczysková, Lukáš Školoudík, Libor Šimůnek, Petra Šolínová, David Školoudík, Jana Janoutová, Vladimír Janout
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):53-58 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8574
Objectives: With increasing life expectancy, the prevalence of atherosclerosis and dementia is expected to rise in the future and as such represents a public health threat. This study focused on analysis of atherosclerosis risk factors and the protective factors of leisure-time activities in the development of dementia. Methods: The sample comprised 1,298 participants that were selected from university hospitals and outpatient clinics between 2019-2023. All participants completed a questionnaire and medical data were obtained. We used logistic regression to identify dementia risk factors and we also compared the leisure-time protective factors between...
Correlation between waist-to-height ratio and other anthropometric indices in the Bosnian elderly
Asija Začiragić, Amela Dervišević, Orhan Lepara, Amila Huremović, Amina Valjevac
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):47-52 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8533
Objectives: The objective of the present study was to explore whether gender differences exist in waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) values and to assess the correlation between WtHR and other obesity indicators after categorising older adults of Bosnian descent based on the presence or absence of abdominal obesity. Methods: The study included 151 inhabitants of the Geriatric Centre in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, aged 65 years and older (66 males and 85 females). Anthropometric indices and blood pressure values were measured by standard methods. WtHR was calculated using the following formula: waist circumference (WC) (cm)/height (cm). Differences...
Trends in Amanita phalloides intoxications in the Czech Republic: how many antidotes are needed?
Daniela Pelclová, Tomáš Navrátil, Eva Kieslichová, Jaroslav Klán, Peter Ondra, Šárka Daňková, Tomáš Májek, Ľubica Bihary
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):40-46 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8787
Objectives: In Central Europe, mushroom poisoning is a public health problem as the Czech Republic belongs to the countries with the highest proportion of mushroom pickers. The trends in A. phalloides intoxications, their treatment and outcome were investigated in verified cases, as several antidotes are recommended and their effect is still under discussion. Methods: Mushroom intoxications in 2010–2024 were searched in the database of the Czech Toxicological Information Centre (TIC) and the Institute of Health Information and Statistics. Intoxications with amatoxins in 2019–2024 were analysed. Results: Mushroom-related consultations of...
Human health risk assessment of trihalomethanes in outdoor swimming pool waters in Montenegro
Dijana Đurović, Nevena Cupara, Irena Nikolić, Milena Tadić, Jelka Vuković
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):33-39 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8555
Objectives: This paper deals with the characterization of outdoor swimming pool waters to study the occurrence of trihalomethanes (THMs) and to assess the health risk of THMs exposure for three population groups (male, female, and children). The concentration of total THMs and individual species (chloroform, bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and bromoform) were monitored during the seven months of 2022 in outdoor swimming pools in the coastal area of Montenegro. Methods: A total of 73 water samples from outdoor swimming pools were collected and tested for the content of THMs using an Agilent 7890 A GC. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic...
Railway accident with benzene release into the environment in 2025: estimation of health risks from available data
Milan Tuček
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):28-32 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8918
Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess potential health risks associated with a large-scale environmental release of benzene following a railway accident in Moravia, Czech Republic, in 2025, with emphasis on differences between population and occupational exposure. Methods: An assessment of potential health risks associated with exposure was performed using available environmental monitoring data. Conservative exposure scenarios were defined for the general population and for remediation workers. Non-carcinogenic risk was expressed as the hazard quotient (HQ), and carcinogenic risk as excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR). Results: Short-term...
Early diagnosis and risk groups: comorbidities in newly diagnosed adults with HIV in Turkey
Şemsi Nur Karabela, Fatma Bayrak Erdem, Esra Canbolat Ünlü, Beyza Kaplan Yapar, Sevtap Şenoğlu, Habip Gedik, Kadriye Kart Yaşar
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):22-27 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8538
Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the early diagnosis of HIV in Turkey, with a particular focus on high-risk populations, comorbid conditions, and temporal trends. It also evaluated whether initial clinical findings could inform the expansion of screening strategies. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,703 individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who attended our clinic between 2004 and 2023. Patients were grouped into five-year intervals and assessed based on demographic characteristics, reasons for testing, and reported comorbidities. Results: Among the participants, 90.3% were males,...
Vaccination coverage against COVID-19 among people living with HIV infection in the Czech Republic
Lukáš Fleischhans, Barbora Králíčková, Marek Malý, Ladislav Machala, David Jilich
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):16-21 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8674
Objectives: The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected hundreds of millions of individuals globally. Vaccination has become a promptly effective preventive procedure. People living with HIV (PLHIV) are in increased risk of many infections including COVID-19. We aimed to analyse the first phase of vaccination (January 2021–June 2022) in the Czech Republic in PLHIV focusing on vaccination coverage, vaccine hesitancy and breakthrough infections. Methods: In this single-centre, open-label, prospective study we have enrolled 1,758 PLHIV with median age of 42.5 years and median CD4+ T cells count (cluster...
Factors influencing attitudes toward vaccination in general and against COVID-19 among family medicine patients with and without chronic disease in Croatia
Vedrana Tudor Špalj, Branislava Popović, Nives Radošević Quadranti, Gordana Mičetić Balog, Zoran Adžić
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):9-15 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8477
Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyse the attitudes and decisions regarding vaccination in general and against COVID-19 among general practitioner (GP) patients in Croatia, and to identify influencing factors, with particular attention to chronic conditions and anxiety. Methods: A total of 184 patients (stratified by sex and presence of chronic disease) from a GP's offices, aged 18-87 years (average 50.3 ± 1.3 years, 49.5% women) were included. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Results: Attitudes toward vaccination in general did not differ between patients with and without chronic diseases and were not influenced by anxiety....
Incidence and risk factors of COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers at a tertiary referral centre: from the first to the sixth wave of the pandemic
Ignacio Ruiz-Salcedo, Álvaro Serrano-Ortiz, Rafael Ruiz-Montero, Juan José López-Moyano, Mohamed Farouk Allam, Estefania López-Cabrera, Inmaculada Salcedo-Leal
Cent Eur J Public Health 2026, 34(1):3-8 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8447
Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) at Reina Sofia University Hospital (RSUH) in Cordoba, Spain, from the first to the sixth wave of the pandemic. Additionally, we analysed the characteristics of infections across different age groups, genders, professional categories, hospital services, and COVID-19 vaccination status. Methods: An observational, longitudinal, analytical, and retrospective study was conducted, considering characteristics of person, time, HCWs category, and diagnostic test. The results of the tests of RSUH HCWs between March 2020 and March 2022 were analysed....
Editorial. Three decades of change in adolescent health and lifestyle in Czechia: insights from the HBSC study 1994–2022
Michal Kalman, Petr Baďura
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):235-237
Planetary-health literacy and mental wellbeing in Czech adolescents: insights from the HBSC survey 2022
Eliška Selinger, Michal Kalman, Petr Baďura, Jana Fürstová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):298-304 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8798
Objectives: Planetary-health literacy (PHL), the knowledge, motivation and social support required to safeguard both human and environmental health, may help adolescents cope with climate-related distress and adopt sustainable behaviours. Evidence on the linkage between PHL and mental health from Central and Eastern Europe is lacking. The aim of the study was to describe PHL in Czech adolescents by sex, grade and family affluence, examine its association with mental-health indicators, and explore links with selected environment-relevant behaviours. Methods: Cross-sectional data were drawn from the nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged...
Trends in medically attended injuries among Czech adolescents between 2002 and 2022
Peter Bakalár, Dagmar Sigmundová, Erik Sigmund
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):292-297 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8699
Objectives: Adolescence is widely recognized as a critical developmental period marked by increased independence and risk-taking behaviours, which often result in medically attended injuries. The aim of the study is to present the trends analyses of self-reported HBSC data on medically attended injuries in Czech adolescents between the years 2002 and 2022 and complement other sources of injuries data in Czech adolescents. Additional objective is to outline the possible use of the above-mentioned data for research purposes by public health professionals and researchers so they can be used for injury prevention purposes. Methods: The overall sample of...
Trends in the perception of school climate in the Czech Republic: HBSC study 1994–2022
Jan Sandora, Petr Baďura, Irene García-Moya, Robert Brnka, Peter Tavel, Zdeněk Meier, Michal Kalman, Gabriel Gulis
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):285-291 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8692
Objective: This study aimed to examine long-term trends in Czech adolescents' perceptions of school climate between 1994 and 2022, focusing on school satisfaction, perceived school pressure, and perceived social support from classmates and teachers. Methods: Data were drawn from eight cycles of the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, encompassing responses from 63,252 students aged 11, 13 and 15 years. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess temporal trends and associations between school climate indicators and demographic variables, including gender, age, and family affluence. Results: Compared to 2022,...
Changes in social media use patterns among Czech adolescents: HBSC study 2018–2022
Meyran Boniel-Nissim, Regina J. J. M. van den Eijnden, Petr Baďura
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):279-284 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8698
Objectives: Previous studies have identified four distinct patterns of adolescent social media use (SMU): non-active users abstain from social media or engage in online interactions only once a week or less; active users connect with others online daily without any functional impairments related to their SMU; intense users frequently engage with others online but do not meet criteria for problematic use; problematic users report six or more addiction-like symptoms. The following study aimed to assess the prevalence of these SMU patterns among Czech adolescent, examine changes between 2018 (pre-COVID-19) and 2022, and explore age and gender differences...
Trends in sleep patterns among Czech adolescents and their current correlates of late bedtimes and social jet lag: HBSC study 2014–2022
Erik Sigmund, Dagmar Sigmundová, Jaroslava Voráčová, Jana Fürstová, Michal Kalman, Inese Gobiņa, Petr Baďura
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):273-278 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8749
Objectives: Sleep is vital for maintaining the health and wellbeing of people of all ages. However, for adolescents, sufficient sleep of adequate duration and quality is critical for profound mental, physical, social, and emotional development. This study aimed to describe trends in sleep duration and late bedtime during school and non-school days in representative cohorts of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old adolescents from Czechia from 2014 to 2022, and to examine the current associations between late bedtimes/social jet lag and wellbeing indicators among adolescents in 2022. Methods: The analysed sample of 42,101 adolescents aged 10.5-16.5 years was drawn...
Active school transport among Czech adolescents declined between 2006 and 2022: HBSC study findings
Michal Vorlíček, Dagmar Sigmundová, Petr Baďura, Jan Dygrýn, Dorota Kleszczewska, Erik Sigmund
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):267-272 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8713
Objectives: Active school transport (AST), such as walking or cycling to and from school, represents an important source of daily physical activity for adolescents. In recent decades, however, many high-income countries have reported a steady decline in AST. The main objective of this study was to describe long-term trends in active travel to and from school among Czech adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 years, using nationally representative data collected in five waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study between 2006 and 2022. Methods: The analysis is based on a total sample of 50,813 adolescents (25,628 boys, 25,085 girls) aged...
Overweight, obesity, and body weight perception among Czech adolescents: a two-decade analysis, HBSC study 2002–2022
Jaroslava Voráčová, Dagmar Sigmundová, Erik Sigmund, Michal Kalman, Zsofia Pusztai
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):260-266 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8691
Objectives: Excess body weight and weight misperception in adolescents are associated with various physical and mental health risks. This study analysed trends in overweight, obesity, body image, and body weight perception among Czech adolescents between 2002 and 2022, considering gender, age and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: Data were retrieved from the questionnaire of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 (N = 52,363; 49.9% girls). The difference test between two proportions was used to assess time trends in weight status (WS), body image and body weight perception across...
Trends in sexual initiation and contraception use among Czech adolescents between 2002–2022
Anna Ševčíková, Vít Suchý, Peter Kolarčik, Lukas Blinka
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):253-259 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8664
Objectives: This study examined trends in sexual behaviour and the timing of sexual initiation among 15-year-old adolescents in Czechia between 2002 and 2022, with a focus on the age of sexual debut (15 and older; early at 14; very early at 13 or younger). It also investigated trends in condom and hormonal contraceptive use at most recent intercourse. Methods: Data were drawn from six nationally representative waves of the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, which was conducted between 2002 and 2022. Only 15-year-olds were included (N = 19,384). Descriptive trend analyses were conducted using survey weights, with subgroup comparisons...
Trends in alcohol use among Czech adolescents: findings from the HBSC study 2014–2022
Ladislav Csémy, Petr Baďura, Ladislav Kážmér
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):247-252 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8822
Objectives: The present study aims to examine trends in adolescent alcohol use over the period from 2014 to 2022. Methods: Data from the last three Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys conducted in 2014, 2018 and 2022 were used for this study. Three measures of adolescent alcohol use have been chosen for analyses: lifetime alcohol use, last 30 days alcohol use, and repeated lifetime drunkenness. The analyses comprised calculation of period-specific prevalence estimates and testing of the significance of between-period changes using survey-adjusted logistic regression models. Results: Comparing prevalence rates between the periods,...
Trends in adolescent cigarette smoking in Czechia: findings from the HBSC study 2014–2022
Ladislav Kážmér, Ondřej Šíba, Michal Kalman, Ladislav Csémy
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):238-246 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8831
Objectives: Regular monitoring of health-related behaviours among vulnerable populations is of public health importance. This study examines recent trends in adolescent cigarette smoking in Czechia following the marked changes reported in the mid-2010s. Methods: Data from three recent rounds of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in Czechia in 2014, 2018 and 2022 were analysed. Temporal trends were assessed for two indicators of adolescent cigarette use: lifetime cigarette use and cigarette use in the last 30 days. Survey-adjusted binary logistic regression models were used to test changes between survey periods. In...
The new chairman of The Editorial Board of the Central European Journal of Public Health, Professor MUDr. Milan Tuček, CSc.News and Notes
The Editorial Board
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):231
Acknowledgement to Professor MUDr. Milena Černá, DrSc.News and Notes
The Editorial Board
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):231
A tribute to Professor MUDr. Vladimír Vonka, DrSc.News and Notes
Libor Grubhoffer
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):230
Validation of the Greek version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form in adults 18–65 years old
Nikos Dimitriadis, Maria Partsafa, Nikoleta-Maria Bokou, Alexandros Dimitriadis, Katy Taveira, Demosthenes Panagiotakos
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):225-229 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8446
Objectives: Various tools and methods have been proposed to measure physical activity, with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) being one of the most popular self-reported tools. The study's aim was to test the validity of IPAQ-SF among Greek male and female adults, aged 18-65 years. Methods: A total of 134 adults (98 males) were randomly selected and participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 37.9 years (SD = 11.6), with 73.1% being male. Translation and back-translation was performed to ensure cultural adaptation. The validity of IPAQ-SF was ascertained using fitness measures (maximum oxygen uptake, VO2...
Behavioural risk factors clusters and their associations with self-reported burdens among university students in Finland
Walid El Ansari, Kareem El-Ansari, René Šebeňa
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):216-224 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8620
Objectives: No research among Finnish universities grouped students into clusters, based on their lifestyle behavioural risk factors (BRFs), and appraised relationships of the clusters with self-reported burdens, adjusting for confounders. The aim of the study was to undertake this task. Methods: Students (N = 1,169) at Turku University completed online questionnaire comprising socio-demographic variables (age, sex, income, social support), 18 burdens, and 4 BRFs (smoking, alcohol, drug use, food habits). Factor analysis reduced burdens into factors; cluster analysis of BRFs categorized students into clusters. Regression models appraised associations...
Using the ErgoScope work simulator and ICF in insurance medicine and occupational health
Sarolta Nagy, András Lászik
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):209-215 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8591
Objectives: Instrumental work diagnostic examinations can be used for capability assessment in evaluating work suitability, job selection, complex and occupational rehabilitation, and career counselling. According to the literature, assessments performed with work simulators and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) are suitable for monitoring changes in functional capacity. We propose that instrumental work diagnostic measurements - specifically, measurements conducted on the ErgoScope work simulator - along with the ICF, can be effectively used for the objective assessment of functional capacity and tracking...
Food safety knowledge and practices of preschool employees with food contact in Podgorica, Montenegro
Maja Milanović, Boban Mugoša, Biljana Popović Kolašinac
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):200-208 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8315
Objectives: This is the first study in Montenegro to assess food safety knowledge, hygiene practices, and perceived barriers among childcare centre employees (N = 972) with both direct and indirect contact with food. It aimed to identify high-risk practices through structured observation and evaluate the need for targeted educational interventions in preschool institutions in Podgorica. Two hypotheses were tested: H1: there is a difference in knowledge and practices between employees with direct and indirect food contact. H2: socio-demographic characteristics influence the knowledge and practices of employees involved in food handling. Methods:...
Limited awareness about the role of dietitians among medical students: a qualitative study
Victoria H. Hawk, Zlata Kapounová, Martin Krobot, Veronika Zelenková, Lauren Haldeman
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):193-199 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8605
Objectives: Dietitians are well qualified to work as nutrition professionals on interprofessional healthcare teams and to provide education to health professionals at academic institutions. However, opportunities for the knowledge and utilization of dietitians in health care are different around the world. With rising global rates of nutrition-related diseases and the availability of university-based dietetic programmes, it is important to consider factors that may impact opportunities for dietitians in different countries. Thus, this study aimed to explore perceptions about the role of dietitians in medical care and medical education in the Czech...