Central European Journal of Public Health - Latest articles
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Role of diet in development of non-communicable diseases: focus on gut microbiome
Andrea Fričová, Anna Zavaďáková, Monika Bludovská
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):200-204 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8138 
Objectives: The dietary composition is able to rapidly and significantly influence the diversity of the gut microbiome. This article focuses on how various types of diet affect the composition of the gut microbiome and how dietary changes are able to prevent or slow down the development of non-communicable diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and low-grade inflammation. Methods: A review in PubMed and a hand search using references in identified articles were performed. Studies published in English from 2000 to 2024 were included. Results: The studies showed the significant effect of diet on the development...
A post-pandemic trend in the consumption of dietary supplements among residents of Lithuania
Rokas Arlauskas, Donatas Austys, Rimantas Stukas
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):189-199 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8092
Objectives: The consumption of dietary supplements might prevent the deficiency of necessary nutrients. On the other hand, in cases of overconsumption, adverse effects might occur. In Lithuania, the COVID-19 pandemic provoked an increase in the consumption of dietary supplements. The aim of this study was to reveal the post-pandemic trend of the consumption of dietary supplements among the working-age residents of Lithuania with respect to social and demographic factors and food selection criteria. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was performed. In total, using the same methods, 3,200 residents were surveyed: 1,600 in 2021 and 1,600 in...
Mediterranean diet adherence in 9-years old children: a cross-sectional study in the part of the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia
Katarina Tomelić Ercegović, Petar Đolonga, Zvonimir Družianić, Vladimir Ercegović, Željka Karin
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):183-188 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8094
Objectives: Childhood obesity is a growing global problem that can be prevented by improving diet quality. Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), historically present in Mediterranean countries, is considered one of the healthiest dietary patterns. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the MedDiet adherence and anthropometric parameters in 9-year-old children from the central geographic locations of Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. Methods: The study analysed data obtained from 158 children aged nine years from central parts of Dalmatia: Split and Hvar. To assess the MedDiet adherence, the parents of the children filled out the Mediterranean Diet Index...
Impact of climate on varicella distribution in Bulgaria (2009-2018)
Tatina Todorova
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):178-182 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7792
Objectives: Temperature is the most important environmental variable associated with the varicella frequency across the world. The present study compares the incidence of varicella in the districts of Bulgaria against some climatic factors and tries to find environmental variables which account for the differences in the varicella distribution observed among the Bulgarian districts. Methods: The 28 Bulgarian districts were used as units of observation and their average 10-year varicella incidence (2009-2018) was tested for correlation with the standard bioclimatic variables of WorldClim, version 2. Results: The WorldClim estimates for the annual mean...
Not bitten by Ixodes ticks or bitten without symptoms, why still to worry?
Mykhaylo Andreychyn, Maria Shkilna, Oleksandr Tokarskyy, Oleh Ivakhiv, Zoriana Smahlii, Mykhaylo Korda
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):173-177 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8114
Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to analyse the risks of Lyme borreliosis (LB) among 1,070 forestry workers, the influence of responsible behaviour (use of repellents, skin self-inspection) on Borrelia screening result status, and the occurrence of immediate and mid-term symptoms after tick bites and LB positive serological screening test. Methods: The questionnaire was conducted as well as blood tests for LB disease by one-stage serological screening procedure using ELISA for specific B. burgdorferi IgM and IgG antibodies (EuroImmun AG company, Germany). Results: While 39.6% of foresters were LB positive among bitten foresters,...
Comparison of cervical cancer screening models based on Pap and HPV tests in Tbilisi, Georgia
Eter Kiguradze, Tamar Skhirtladze, Nikoloz Chkhartishvili, Tamuna Gogoladze, Nino Chikhladze, Tamar Alibegashvili
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):166-172 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8014
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of human papillomavirus HPV test with HPV16/18 genotyping and liquid-based cytology (LBC) triage as a primary screening method for cervical cancer compared to conventional Pap test in women undergoing routine cervical cancer screening in Tbilisi. Methods: Cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted, where 1,000 enrolled women aged 30-60 years during one visit underwent conventional Pap smear and Hr-HPV testing (Roche Cobas system). Women with any positive screening results were referred for further evaluation and remaining cells from the Cell Collection Medium vial were used...
Occupational respiratory disease in Eastern Slovakia between 1990-2021: a shift from agriculture to industrial manufacturing
Ľubomír Legáth, Ivan Tkáč, Petra Dittrichová, Ivan Perečinský, Miroslava Matejová, Slavomír Perečinský
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):160-165 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8111
Objectives: Occupational allergic respiratory diseases frequently occur in individuals working in the agricultural and food production sectors, textile manufacturing, and industries involving exposure to isocyanates. The study aimed to describe trends surrounding the prevalence of occupational asthma (OA), occupational rhinitis (OR), and occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis (OHP) in Eastern Slovakia between 1990-2021. Methods: All cases of OA, OR, and OHP registered in a database at the Louis Pasteur University Hospital in Košice, Slovakia, between 1990 and 2021, were divided into categories based on economic sector (agricultural, food production...
Course and complications of influenza A in seniors over 65 years of age
Dalibor Sedláček, Robin Šín, Patrik Christian Cmorej, Miroslav Kubiska
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):155-159 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7877
Objectives: Influenza A and B viruses cause epidemics every year, with approximately 3-5 million serious cases and about 290,000 to 650,000 deaths worldwide. Most patients die from bacterial complications of influenza. The aim of our study was to describe the clinical pictures of influenza and the development of the complications in seniors over 65 years of age, who were treated in University Hospital Pilsen. The course of the disease and changes in laboratory parameters were evaluated with regard to the method of treatment performed. Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was performed. Clinical and laboratory data of seniors with the diagnosis...
Occurrence of adverse events following vaccination in patients with allergies: a prospective study
Petra Macounová, Hana Tomášková, Rastislav Maďar
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):147-154 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8170
Objectives: Allergic patients may be concerned about more frequent and/or more severe adverse events following vaccination, which may lead to the refusal of vaccines among these patients. The aim of this study is to assess whether allergic patients have more frequent adverse events (AEs) after vaccination than healthy individuals. Methods: Study participants (N = 591) underwent vaccination of their choice at a selected Vaccination and Travel Medicine Centre. At a 10 to 14-day interval, they were contacted for a telephone questionnaire survey on the occurrence of AEs after vaccination. A group of allergic patients (n = 188) and healthy controls (n =...
Organization of PhD studies at the Faculty of Public Health of the Slovak Medical University in the context of practiceShort communication
Eva Horváthová, Juraj Tihányi
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):137-142 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7944
Objectives: The Slovak Medical University (SMU) holds a unique position in the health education system in Slovakia. It has a direct connection to the health sector, allowing health education to reflect the actual needs in this field. Because of increasing importance of public health in the last decades, more attention must be given to disease prevention and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. We aim to highlight the main characteristics of health higher education at one of the specialized health universities in Slovakia, with a particular focus on public health and its practical impacts. Methods: We analysed the available legal regulations for postgraduate...
Some issues of compulsory vaccination of adults
Vít Vlček
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):132-136 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8088
Legal regulation, whether we want it or not, plays a role in protecting and promoting individual and public health. This also applies to legislation involving vaccination, especially compulsory vaccination. It is appropriate that legislation should not create barriers to the provision of health care. Where there is legal ambiguity, problems can arise that make the provision of health care more difficult, as we have seen, for example, in the context of the COVID pandemic. Furthermore, in the case of compulsory vaccination, there is a conflict between fundamental rights and freedoms. On the one hand, the right to the protection of personal freedom and...
Increase in measles cases in a City hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Mehmet Karabey, Nuran Karabulut, Sema Alaçam, Alper Gündüz, Canan Caymaz, Özlem Altuntaş Aydin
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):125-131 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7981
Objectives: Measles cases are increasing remarkably in our country as well as all over the world. In this study, it was aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of measles cases detected in our hospital, as well as the measles seroprevalence in our region. Methods: A total of 7,452 individuals whose measles IgG and/or IgM antibodies were studied between December 2021 and March 2023 in the Medical Virology Laboratory in Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital were included in this retrospective study. Measles IgG and IgM antibodies were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic information, clinical symptoms...
A case-control epidemiological survey on potential risk factors for celiac disease
Matúš Bielik, Martin Selvek, Magda Suchánková, Ivana Shawkatová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):119-124 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8010
Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder caused by a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The main goal of our case-control study was to analyse the association of environmental factors with the odds of CD development in a sample of the Slovak population. Methods: Data were collected from 1,226 respondents (534 CD patients and 692 controls) by a questionnaire. The impact of analysed parameters on the chance of disease development was assessed by multiple regression analysis and expressed as odds ratios (OR). Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: In the patient group,...
Return to work after ischaemic stroke in young adults: a scoping review
Daniela Bartoníčková, Elena Gurková, Renáta Zeleníková, Soňa Kalafutová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):108-118 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7936
Objectives: The aim of the study was to synthesize the body of knowledge on the factors that are important to the process of returning to work after ischaemic stroke in young adults under 55 years of age. Methods: Guidelines regarding the scoping review methodology developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute, and the PRISMA checklist for scoping reviews were used. A total of 2,249 studies were identified through a bibliographic search in six databases. Results: A total of ten studies were finally selected to respond to the research questions. Eight studies were quantitative observational studies, and two studies had a case study design. The rate of returning...
Dietary intake of plant polyphenols: Exploring trend in the Czech population
Pavel Sedláček, Monika Bludovská, Iveta Plavinová, Anna Zavaďáková, Luděk Müller, Dana Müllerová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):101-107 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7994
Objectives: This study aimed to determine trend in polyphenol consumption in the Czech Republic during the last three decades. Additionally, it provides a brief overview of the beneficial effects of polyphenols in several body systems. Methods: Data from the Phenol-Explorer 3.6, a specialized database of polyphenolic substances, were assigned to the resources of the Czech Statistical Office on the consumption of food and beverages in the Czech Republic for the years 1989-2022. The average daily intake of polyphenols was determined by multiplying the average annual consumption of each type of food by the polyphenol content obtained from the database;...
Predictors of children's headaches during the second COVID-19 pandemic wave in the country with long-lasting lockdown
Roma Jusienė, Lina Lisauskienė, Edita Baukienė, Ilona Laurinaitytė, Rūta Praninskienė, Vaidotas Urbonas
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):95-100 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8007
Objectives: The current study examined the links and interactions among headaches, screen-based media use, physical activity, sleep, and the family environment in Lithuanian school-aged children during the second COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: The study comprised data of 541 children aged 7-14 years from different Lithuania regions, and without chronic health conditions or developmental disorders. Information about the child was provided by their parents or caregivers who filled questionnaire on child's screen time, sleep duration and quality, physical activity, parental distress, parent-child relationship, history of child's headaches and infectious...
Life expectancy in relation to societal development level: significant discordant factors
Matea Stiperski Matoc, Zoran Stiperski, Lovro Matoc, Luka Valožić
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):85-94 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8162
Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the interdependence between life expectancy and numerous social indicators, i.e., to determine the factors that encourage an increase or decrease in life expectancy. Methods: Pearson coefficients as well as linear and logarithmic trends and correlations between the dependent variable of life expectancy and numerous independent variables were calculated and analysed. The calculations were carried out for all countries in the world for which data is available. Based on the strength of the correlations between life expectancy and numerous indicators, we have tried to determine the reasons for the different...
Students' knowledge about HIV and their attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS in the Czech Republic: analysis of the school environment and recommendations for prevention
Anna Kubátová, Alena Fialová, Jiří Stupka, Marek Malý, Lidmila Hamplová, Simona Sedláčková
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):77-84 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8313
Objectives: The main objective of the questionnaire survey conducted by the National Institute of Public Health in Prague was to determine the level of knowledge and attitudes and to identify changes since the previous survey in 2015. A secondary objective was to gather more detailed information on how HIV/AIDS topics are taught in schools, as reported by school prevention coordinators. Methods: The questionnaire was distributed to 48 randomly selected educational institutions and the humanitarian organization MRIYA UA z.s. between October 2022 and January 2023. Data on 21 questions focusing on HIV/AIDS issues were collected anonymously from Czech...
Overweight and obesity prevalence: a pilot implementation of the ‟COSI" methodology in the Republic of Srpska
Adriana Ljubojević, Zeljko Sekulić, Igor Vučković, Zeljko Vukić, Goran Pašić, Saša Marković, Dan Iulian Alexe, Ng Kwok, Ratko Perić
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(2):71-76 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8219
Objectives: Childhood obesity has become a worldwide public health concern over the past decade, counting Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the lack of standardized surveillance data on childhood obesity. However, BiH and its entity, Republic of Srpska (RS), are failing inclusion in such initiative, which hinders efforts to monitor and address the issue. Henceforth, the objective of this nationally funded study was to gather and analyse data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary-school children in RS by implementing...
Metabolically healthy obesity and health risks – a review of meta-analyses
Erika Čermáková, Martin Forejt
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):3-8 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7806
Objective: This article briefly summarizes the results of existing research on metabolically healthy obesity in the context of health risks. Methods: The PubMed database was searched for relevant meta-analyses addressing metabolically healthy obesity in the context of health risks. Results: We included a total of 17 relevant meta-analyses in this review. The results of the studied meta-analyses showed that metabolically healthy obesity may be only a transient condition associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic abnormalities in the future. People with obesity without metabolic abnormalities have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes,...
Health status in selected post-communist European countries: a comparative study between Poland and AlbaniaShort communication
Wojciech Czabanowski, Iris Mone, Genc Burazeri
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):63-67 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7804
Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to compare selected health status indicators of the Albanian and Polish populations, pertinent to two former communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Methods: This analysis was based on the estimates related to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study, reported by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). For Poland, IHME uses data mainly from the Central Statistical Office of Poland, whereas for Albania the information is based on the reports from the National Institute of Statistics. Results: In 2019, life expectancy at birth was slightly higher in Albania compared to Poland...
Compulsory vaccination of children – medical and legal problems
Vít Vlček
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):58-62 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8087
Regarding the vaccination of children, it can be said that there are basically three vaccination policies in the world, one of which is usually used in particular country depending on the national legislation. These are the mandatory vaccination policy, mandatory vaccination policy for school entry and recommended vaccination policy. The mandatory vaccination policy and the mandatory vaccination policy for school entry face obstacles consisting of conflicts between fundamental human rights and freedoms. This is, for example, a conflict between the right to health and the right to life on the one hand and the right to protect the inviolability of the...
History of development of undergraduate public health education in Bulgaria
Valentina Alexandrova, Klara Dokova
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):52-57 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7928
Objective: The study aims to present a historical review and analysis of the establishment and development of undergraduate public health (PH) education in Bulgaria from 1878 until 2019. Methods: А search and selection of historical documents was performed, including laws, rules, regulations, government plans, programmes, scientific publications from periodical medical press, journals, specialized monographs, and books. A retrospective analysis of the normative documents related to the organization of the sanitation and public health activities, and to the provision of professional undergraduate education of the public health workforce in Bulgaria...
Thirteen-year surveillance results of acute flaccid paralysis cases in Southeast Turkey and the effect of refugee movements on surveillance results
Nezir Özgün, Gülnaz Kubat, Birgül Turan, Mert Özgün, İzzettin Toktaş, Gülay Korukluoğlu
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):45-51 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7605
Objective: Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a major neurological problem. Turkey has accepted over 4 million refugees since 2011 due to the wars in neighbouring countries. In the long term, refugees can have adverse effects on the limited resources of health, sanitation, water supply, foodstuff, and shelter services of host countries, precipitating the transmission and spread of enteroviruses causing AFP. This study examines the 13-year surveillance and incidence of AFP cases in southeast Turkey, and questions possible impact of refugee movements on these parameters, comparing the periods before (2007-2010) and after (2011-2019) 2011, when the refugee...
Physical activity and mental health of medical students
Konstantinos Stratakis, Zorica Terzić-Šupić, Jovana Todorović, Dejan Nešić, Ivana Novaković
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):39-44 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8097
Objective: Medical students usually do not meet the recommendations on the minimum level of physical activity, despite knowing the impact that physical activity has on the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Medical students are considered to be insufficiently physically active. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of physically active fifth-year medical students at five universities in Serbia, as well as to identify factors associated with insufficient physical activity of students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in the population of fifth-year medical students from five different universities in Serbia. The...
Are the elements zinc, copper, magnesium, and rubidium related to nutrition and iodine deficiency in pregnant Bulgarian women from iodine deficient region?
Mariana Georgieva Bacelova, Penka Dimitrova Gatseva, Tanya Ivanova Deneva, Delyana Miteva Davcheva, Anelia Veselinova Bivolarska
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):31-38 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7796
Objective: Trace elements are essential for the biochemistry of the cell. Their reference values have been found to differ considerably in pregnant women stratified by age, place of residence, anthropometric status, and length of pregnancy. In optimal amounts, these elements reduce the risk of pregnancy complications. Subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), and rubidium (Rb) on pregnant women in an iodine deficiency region and find the relationship with the thyroid status and nutrition. Methods: We...
Association of cardiovascular health and educational status in a screening cohort
Sarah Wernly, Georg Semmler, Maria Flamm, Andreas Völkerer, Ralf Erkens, Elmar Aigner, Christian Datz, Bernhard Wernly
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):25-30 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7818
Introduction: The global burden of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, remains a significant public health challenge. The Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score was developed as a tool to evaluate cardiovascular health behaviours and habits and identify high-risk individuals. The present study aimed to assess the distribution of LS7 scores among educational strata. Methods: The study population consisted of 3,383 asymptomatic individuals screened for colorectal cancer at a single centre in Austria. We split patients into lower (n = 1,055), medium (n = 1,997), and higher (n = 331) education, based on the International Standard Classification of...
Prevalence of risk factors for development of cardiovascular diseases in urban and rural areas of Eastern Croatia: a cross-sectional study
Mirta Klapec-Basar, Tanja Kovač, Renata Apatić, Željko Mudri, Tin Basar, Stjepan Jurić, Rudika Gmajnić, Robert Lovrić
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):16-24 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7709
Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading global cause of death. Due to the disparities in cardiovascular risk factors between rural and urban populations, this study aims to assess the differences in the prevalence of risk factors in urban and rural areas of eastern Croatia. Methods: The cross-sectional study included 280 participants (140 from urban and 140 from rural areas) registered at studied general practice offices. Methods included e-health records, questionnaire, physical examination methods, and blood sampling for laboratory tests. Results: The most common risk factors among participants were elevated total cholesterol (83.6%),...
The relationship between atherosclerosis and dementia
Jana Janoutová, Ondřej Machaczka, Martina Kovalová, Anna Zatloukalová, Petr Ambroz, Veronika Koutná, Eva Mrázková, Michal Bar, Martin Roubec, Petra Bártová, Richard Novobilský, Martin Sabela, Pavlína Kušnierová, David Stejskal, Lucie Faldynová, Sylwia Walczysková, Martin Vališ, Lukáš Školoudík, Petra Šolínová, David Školoudík, Vladimír Janout
Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(1):9-15 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7848
Objective: The main objective is to confirm a hypothesis that atherosclerosis, through various mechanisms, considerably influences cognitive impairment and significantly increases the risk for developing dementia. Complete sample should be 920 individuals. The present study aimed to analyse epidemiological data from a questionnaire survey. Methods: The work was carried out in the form of an epidemiological case control study. Subjects are enrolled in the study based on results of the following examinations carried out in neurology departments and outpatient centres during the project NU20-09-00119 from 2020 to 2023. Respondents were divided into four...
PrefaceBiological aspects of selected diseases in European population
Janka Poráčová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2023, 31(Suppl 1):3
This Supplementum of the Central European Journal of Public Health brings new scientific knowledge and results regarding studies focused on the prevalence of some diseases in medicinal staff in a selected location in eastern Slovakia in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the health status and hygienic behaviour of pregnant women in Hungary during this period. Other scientific works report the results of the study of the serious civilizational disease diabetes mellitus type 2 from the point of view of the association of biochemical markers and the genotype of the VDR gene, the influence on the occurrence and course of diabetic retinopathy...