Ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) has been defined by the American Heart Association as the lack of cardiovascular disease and the presence of seven key factors and health behaviors. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of ideal and poor CVH among the Polish adult population based on the example of the inhabitants of Janów district in Lubelskie Voivodship, taking the chosen socio-demographic factors into consideration. This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 3901 adults without cardiovascular diseases, aged between 35 and 64 years. Participants completed a questionnaire, and they had anthropometric and physiological measurements taken. Blood samples were analyzed for fasting glucose and cholesterol levels. Ideal CVH was found in 5.4% of the participants, with the advantage of being toward city dwellers over those living in the rural areas (6.3% vs. 5.0%) p = 0.02. In the case of the residents of rural areas, their likelihood of having an ideal body mass index (BMI) was found to be 22% lower (odds ratio (OR) = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66–0.92), their likelihood of having an ideal diet was found to be 27% lower (OR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.54–0.94), their likelihood of having perfect blood pressure was found to be 29% lower (OR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.56–0.89), and their likelihood of having the perfect glucose levels was found to be 28% lower (OR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.63–0.84), than the residents of urban areas. The prevalence of ideal cardiovascular behaviors and factors is lower in the rural community compared with people living in the city. Results indicate that more effort should be dedicated toward the country’s health policy, specifically concerning primary prevention. Preventive actions in the field of cardiovascular disease should be addressed to the residents of rural areas to a larger extent.

IntroductionThe incidence of malnutrition increases together with the number of chronic diseases and medications taken daily. There are also other factors causing changes in the nutrition of the elderly, raising the risk of undernourishment. Such factors include difficulties with daily shopping, meal preparation and other everyday activities, hindering access to food with proper quantitative and qualitative properties. The nutritional state of the elderly is influenced not only by somatic disorders, but also by mental disorders such as depression.AimTo define the relationship between the nutritional state of the elderly living in their home environment and the incidence of depression.Material and methodsThe described sample consisted of 116 (100%) elderly persons living in the Lubelskie Voivodeship, using the services carried out within primary healthcare. The nutritional state of the elderly was assessed with the use of the full version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire. In order to determine the intensity of depression symptoms, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (the 15-item version by Yesavage) was applied.ResultsDuring analysis of the impact of depression on malnutrition risk, a correlation with a high statistical significance level was found. Malnutrition was significantly more often identified in people in whom the GDS scale revealed severe depression (p = 0.00002). The risk of depression has a substantial impact on nutritional state. The nutritional state of the elderly deteriorates together with the increase of the risk of depression.ConclusionsIn over 48% of respondents, including those living with their families, an intensification of depression symptoms was found.

Background: There is insufficient research into informal caregivers’ quality of life (QoL) in Poland. The purpose of this work is to study predictors that considerably affect QoL of informal caregivers (IC) providing home care for seniors with chronic diseases and a functional performance deficit. Materials and methods: In the cross-sectional research design, ICs were randomly chosen among the geriatric population receiving care in 5 primary health care settings. The WHOQoL-AGE questionnaire was used to assess QoL of ICs (n=138). The Barthel scale and Polish version of the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) were applied to assess individuals with chronic diseases and functional and mental performance deficits (n=138). The Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF) was used to measure the extent of risk of depressive symptoms in care-receivers. A hierarchical regression analysis was carried out to determine predictors of caregivers’ QoL. Results: Mean values in the group of seniors provided with home care were as follows: the Barthel scale M=43.20, SD=27.06, the AMTS M=7.78 (SD=1.65), and the GDS-SF M=7.34 (SD=3.10). QoL of ICs (the WHOQoL-AGE) was M=70.14 (SD=15.31). Significant predictors of caregivers’ QoL turned out to be support in care given by others β =0.605, p <0.001, experience in care β =–0.220; p <0.001, caregivers’ health self-assessment β =0.174, p <0.001, and depressive disorders in care-receivers GDS β = −0.178, p <0.001. Conclusions: The QoL of ICs who provide care for individuals with chronic diseases and a functional performance deficit improves with an increase in the support they receive from others, their higher health self-assessment, and greater experience in care. An increase in depressive symptoms in care-receivers determines a lower level of caregivers’ QoL.

Introduction and objective. Deficits of vitamin resources constitute a significant public health problem, especially among the elderly population. The aim of the research was to determine the level of vitamin 25 (OH) D and vitamins from group B in the chronically ill elderly in domiciliary care, depending on functional capacity and coexisting diseases. Materials and method. The pilot study included 137 patients staying in long-term domiciliary care. Samples of the participants' venous blood was obtained for laboratory tests. Centrifuged serum was used to determine the level of the following biochemical parameters: vitamin 25 (OH)D, B12, folic acid and total protein, albumin, triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. Assessment of the functional status of patients was made by using the Barthel scale. Results. More than ¾ of the patients with functional deficit (according to Barthel's score 0-85 points) were deficient in vitamin 25 (OH)D, while folic acid values were below the reference values in more than half of the patients. Respondents with lower functional efficiency were characterised by a reduced average value of vitamin 25 (OH)D and folic acid. Conclusions. The studied group of the chronically ill elderly was characterised by a deficiency of vitamin D3 and folic acid. Subjects with a functional impairment deficit show a reduced mean value of vitamin 25 (OH)D and folic acid in the blood serum, compared to the group of patients with higher mobility.

SummaryIntroduction: Health behaviours are the most important factor conditioning human health in approx. 50%. Also in cancer prevention the behaviours which women can have impact an on are crucial.Aim of the study: An attempt to diagnose selected health behaviours as breast cancer risk factors and to determine their scale using the Health Behaviour Inventory.Material and methods: The survey was carried out among 566 women from the Lubelskie Voivodeship in a period from March to November 2007. 37.5% of the surveyed were patients of 4 Lublin hospitals (group 1), while 62.5% accounted for healthy women, selected at random (group 2). To diagnose and assess health behaviours' scale, a standardised research tool -the Health Behaviour Inventory, and the questionnaire were applied. Differences in the groups were significant when p ≤ 0.05.Results: The survey shows that overweight and obesity, alcohol abuse and low physical activity at work were significantly more frequent in women with cancer than in healthy women. No statistically significant differences were identified in consuming cereal products, fruit and vegetables, vegetable oils, fish, poultry, red meat and legumes. Passive forms of leisure were the most popular free-time activities. Women with cancer presented the declared health behaviours at a larger scale, including preventive behaviours and a positive mental attitude.Conclusions: The following breast cancer risk factors were found: overweight and obesity, alcohol abuse and low physical activity at work. A larger scale of declared health behaviours considerably more often concerned women after mastectomy than healthy women.Key words: breast cancer, risk factors, health behaviour. StreszczenieWstęp: Zachowania zdrowotne są najistotniejszym czynnikiem, warunkującym w ok. 50% zdrowie czło-wieka, również w profilaktyce raka piersi te zachowania, na które kobieta ma wpływ, zajmują istotne miejsce.Cel pracy: Próba zdiagnozowania wybranych zachowań zdrowotnych kobiet jako czynników ryzyka raka piersi oraz określenie ich natężenia za pomocą Inwentarza zachowań zdrowotnych.Materiał i metody: Badaniami objęto grupę 566 kobiet z terenu województwa lubelskiego w okresie od marca do listopada 2007 r. Wśród badanych 37,5% stanowiły pacjentki 4 lubelskich szpitali (grupa 1), 62,5% kobiet zdrowych wybrano z populacji w sposób losowy (grupa 2). Do zdiagnozowania i oceny natężenia zachowań zdrowotnych wykorzystano standaryzowane narzędzie badawcze Inwentarz zachowań zdrowotnych oraz kwestionariusz ankiety. Różnice w badanych grupach były istotne w przypadku, gdy p ≤ 0,05.Wyniki: Z badań wynika, że nadwaga i otyłość, nadużywanie alkoholu oraz niski poziom aktywności fizycznej w zakresie wykonywanej pracy dotyczył istotnie częściej kobiet chorych niż zdrowych. Nie stwierdzono istotnych różnic statystycznych w zakresie spożycia produktów zbożowych, owoców i warzyw, olejów roślinnych, ryb, drobiu, czerwonego mięsa oraz roślin strączkowych. Najczęstszą formą aktywności w wolnym czasie są bierne formy odpoczynku. Kobiety chore prez...