Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular events and death. A reduction in salt intake is among the most cost-effective strategies to reduce blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Increasing potassium lowers blood pressure and is associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Adequate iodine intake is important to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. Salt iodization is a key strategy to prevent such deficiency. In Lithuania, no surveys have been performed to directly assess sodium, potassium and iodine consumption. The aim of the present study was to measure sodium, potassium and iodine intake in a randomly selected adult Lithuanian adult population using 24 h urine collections, and to assess knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards salt consumption. Salt and potassium intakes were estimated in 888 randomly selected participants by 24 h urine sodium and potassium excretion and 679 individuals provided suitable 24 h urine samples for the analysis of iodine excretion. Average salt intake was 10.0 (SD 5.3) g/24 h and average potassium intake was 3.3 (SD 1.3) g/24 h. Only 12.5% of participants consumed less than 5 g/24 h of salt. The median value of urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 95.5 μg/L. Our study showed that average salt intake is twice as high as the maximum level recommended by the World Health Organization while potassium and iodine intakes in Lithuania are below the recommended levels.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of chronic diseases for depressive episodes. Material and methods: Primary health care center has carried out a placement of immediate retrospective study of outpatients with patients selected according to ICD-10 for the three digit from 31.3 F to 33.9 F. We examined the possibility of a connection between chronic diseases and depression in a view of the emergence of depressive illness period, considering the effectiveness of the methods of treatment and the progress of somatic symptom onset. The data obtained were processed by statistical program SPSS 22.0.0.0. Results: 234 outpatient data were selected for the research work. Patient age ranged from 25 to 89 years, while 60,6 percent, most of the participants, were women. It was found that 70,7 percent of patients were diagnosed with a major depressive disorder and in 28,6 percent of the cases it occurred repeatedly and most of the patients had moderate depression (n=203). After combining the obtained data it was estimated that 51,28 percent of the patients identified chronic disease as the cause of depression occurrence. The majority of the selected patients prevailed in essential hypertension (47,86 percent), oncological (19,23 percent), vertebral pathology (17,52 percent), osteoarthritis (14,53 percent), thyroid disease (14,10 percent). Based on the calculation we can reliably say that the diagnosis of oncological disease trigger depression (χ2=24.525; p=0,001), which was most frequently localized as the uterine and breast malignancies (n=11 and 10). Bone pathology as the cause of depression identified 50 (66,7 percent) participants. The analysis showed that these patients may develop depression (χ2=10.457; p=0,001). Meanwhile, the pain syndrome accompanied some chronic diseases (mainly osteochondroma and radiculopathy (58,75 percent), osteoarthritis (31,25 percent), cancer (16,25 percent), which was the reason why 70 percent of these patients identified pain as the cause of depression. Meanwhile, these chronic conditions did not relate to the diagnosis of depression associated with the thyroid (p=0,731), cardiovascular (p=0,045), nervous system (p=0,256), chronic pulmonary disease (p=0,803), and diabetes (p=0,706). Conclusion: It was estimated that more than two thirds of the respondents who are suffering from 1-2 chronic diseases have a reasonably high probability of having/getting a depression as well (χ2=12.828; p=0,002). The carried out analysis revealed that almost a half of the patients with permanent depressive state attacks (n=118) were mainly with somatic symptoms of deterioration (n=29,06). Estimates show that more than 60 percent of all cases where connected with the treatment with continuous progress, although one-third of them modified due to the lack of effect of the product. Although when the depression diagnosis was confirmed most of the observed were already patients of at least one chronic disease, there was no increase in depressive episodes. Oncological diseases, spine and joint pathology mediated by pain syndrome may be associated with the occurence of the depression. Age and gender are irrelevant for depressive episodes, although the number of chronic diseases may be associated with the occurence of depressive illness. The clinical expression of the somatic depression is not typical for the patients of chronic diseases. The continuity of the treatment strategy by changing the appointment of pharmaceuticals is a possible cause of a fluctuating process of depression which tends to express the positive dynamics of the condition.

The paper analyses whether arterial hypertension, overweight, excessive drinking, smoking andinsufficient sports activity have an impact on the behaviour and emotional well-being of young people aged17–18. A questionnaire of Achenbach is used for investigating teenagers’ psychological difficulties. Categoricalvariables are analysed using logistic regression and log-linear models.

Constipation is a highly prevalent disorder in the primary care. The observed morbidity differences between gender, age, socioeconomic classes with different feeding habits, physical activity and related diseases. Aim. To evaluate causes, diagnostic, treatment features of constipation in the primary care. Methods: was made random interviews of people between 20-80 years old. For interview was used questionnaire of KESS (The Knowles- Eccersley- Scott- Symptom scoring system) for the diagnostic of constipation and 13 questions to assess the risks. The pilot testing of questionnaire validity was carried out, the overall Cronbach alpha coefficient is 0.978. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and SPSS 13.0 for Windows data packets. Results. Was interviewed 320 people, of which 33.13% were established constipations. The average duration of constipation ranged from 18 month up 5 years. The average age of patients with constipation was 56±14.99 years and the healthy group- 41±14.20 years (p0,05). No differences were observed between man and women (p>0.05). Educational groups incidence of constipation was: high education – 29.19%, secondary – 30.3% and basic – 70.37%. We found, that most respondents eat irregularly, 3-4 times per day. We found, that increased fiber food usage, higher intake of fluid was correlated with lower incidence of constipation, as well as higher levels of physical activity or related chronic diseases (p 0.05). In assessing treatment, laxatives was used by 132 respondents, including 75.76% of patients with constipation and enemas was used by 53 respondents, including 94.43% of patients with constipation. Observed that only 62.26% of patients with constipation reported seeing a physician and 96.23% are treated independently. Conclusions: Purposefully interview of patients observed there is a high incidence of constipation. Differences of morbidity between genders are not observe, different than age and education groups. Not all investigated risk factors affect the incidence of constipation increased; mostly affects the small fluid, fiber food intake, physical activity and related chronic diseases. Patients are not give importance to this issue, and so thats why they do not seek a physician often and are treated independently.

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