Background and Objective. To date, the epidemiological studies of noncommunicable diseases in Latvia were more episodic and covered only selected areas. The first national crosssectional population-based survey of cardiovascular risk factors after regaining independence was carried out to provide reliable information on the cardiovascular risk factor profile in adults. Material and Methods. Computerized random sampling from the Registry of Latvian population was carried out. A total of 6000 enrolled subjects aged 25–74 years were divided into 10 age subgroups. The data of 3807 respondents (63.5% of all) were included into the final analysis. Results. The mean number of cardiovascular risk factors was 2.99±0.026 per subject: 3.45±0.043 and 2.72±0.030 for men and women, respectively. Of all the respondents, 75.2% had an increased total cholesterol level. Hypercholesterolemia was found in almost 56% of men and 41% of women in the age group of 25–34 years. Hyperglycemia was documented in 34.1% of the respondents (41.6% of men and 29.8% of women). More than two-thirds (67.8%) of the persons were overweight, while obesity was found in 25.6% of men and 32.6% of women. Arterial hypertension was identified in 44.8% of the respondents; its prevalence was higher in men than women (52.9% vs. 40.2%). There were more current smokers among men than women (30.5% vs. 11.4%). Conclusions. The levels of cardiovascular risk factors in Latvia were found to be relatively high. The data can be utilized as baseline characteristics that can be compared down the road including the monitoring of health prevention activities.

Background and Objective. According to the data of epidemiologic research, the prevalence of both excessive and insufficient body weight is increasing in a pediatric population leading to the growing burden of health problems due to these changes. The aim of the study was to understand the current situation of physical development of 9- and 10-year-old boys and girls in Latvia and to estimate the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity among young adolescents. Material and Methods. During 2007–2009, a random sample of healthy 9-year-old (n=184) and 10-year-old (n=320) children from all regions and different socioeconomic groups of Latvia was surveyed in a cross-sectional study. The anthropometric measurements of height, weight, 3 circumferences, and 5 skinfolds were performed. The percentage of body fat was calculated by the equation of Slaughter et al. Body mass index and fat mass index were calculated for each respondent. Children were divided into groups according to these indexes. At the age of 9 years, 69.5% of boys had a normal nutritional level either by BMI or FMI, and 54.5% and 72.2% of the girls of the same age had a normal nutritional level by BMI and by FMI, respectively. Obesity according to BMI in 9-year-old boys was found to be 4.7% and in girls 6.1%; according to FMI, 3.7% and 2.3%, respectively. A similar trend was also observed in the cohort of 10-year-old children. Conclusions. The results of the research showed that the problem of high prevalence of Latvian children with underweight is not smaller than the problem of children with obesity. Evaluation of physical development in children based only body mass index may lead to overdiagnosis of obesity.

Latviešu medicīnas attīstībā rakstītam vārdam vēsturiski ir ļoti liela nozīme. Pirmkārt, tas ir tālab, lai saglabātu pilnvērtīgu un labskanīgu profesionālo medicīnas valodu ar latviešu terminiem un internacionālu, uz pierādījumiem balstītu medicīnisku domāšanu. Otrkārt, dzimtajā valodā cilvēkam jebkuru mācību vielu ir vienkāršāk apgūt, bet latviešiem laikmetu griežos vairākkārt nācies mainīt prioritāro svešvalodu atkarībā no politiskās konjunktūras-prioritāra bijusi vācu, krievu vai angļu valoda, bet cilvēkiem gados, kā zināms, jaunu valodu profesionālā līmenī apgūt nav viegli. Tālab latviešu valodai medicīnas apmācībā un mūžizglītībā īpaša nozīme bija 20. gs. 50. un 90. gados, kad ienāca literatūra citā svešvalodā. Treškārt, nacionālas medicīnas grāmatas ir nozīmīgs nācijas izdzīvošanas un attīstības rādītājs, gluži kā nacionālā mūzika vai nacionālais teātris.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LATVIA Background. An increasing prevalence (PREV.) of noncomunicable diseases is a major public health concern  in Latvia. Regular nationwide epidemiological studies present an opportunity to estimate the dinamics of PREV of health risk factors (RF) and thus assist in planning resources and improving prevention strategies at national level. Objective.  The aim  was to analyze the PREV of cardiovascular  RF identified in a  epidemiological study in 2019-2020. To assess changes in RF prevalence, the results were compared to data from a similar study in 2009-2010. Methods. 4070 inhabitants (age 25-74) of Latvia  enrolled. The statistical sample (6000 pers.) was random selected from the Housing Register, Central Statistical Bureau (1’209’756 INDV). The survey included an interview, physical examination (body mass index (BMI), arterial pressure etc.) and venous blood sample collection for fasting glucose (Glu), total cholesterol (TC), high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (Tg) measurement.  The data were processed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Results. The mean number of  RF ((AH, TC, LDL-C, Tg, BMI, smoking, arterial hypertension) was 2,93 ±0.1 (mean ± SE) per person for the overall study population. The men group had a significantly greater  number of RF than  the female group  (3.15 ± 0.15 vs.2.55 ± 0.12). A positive correlation between age and the number of RF was found. In the age group 65 and more, the mean number of RF decreased in men and stabilized in women. Although the mean number of RFs has decreased statistically insignificantly over 10 years, changes in the PREV of individual RFs are significant  (see table).  Decrease of PREV of elevated TC, LDL-C, Glu ≥3.0 mmol/L, as well as a decrease in the PREV of young smokers, men, should be noted. Conclusion. The nationwide data can be used as the baseline characteristics against which other measurements can be compared down the road including of health prevention activities Prevalence of most important RF (%) 2019-2020 2009-2010 RF All Men Women All Men Women TC≥5.0 mmol/L 63.2× 60.7× 65.4× 75,2 72.0 78.0 LDL-C≥3.0 mmol/L 62.0× 63.1× 61.1× 73.7 73.1 73.9 Glucose 5.6-6.99 mmol/L 22.1× 27.1× 17.8× 28.7 35.3 24.9 Arterial Hypertension 38.0× 41.1× 35.3× 44.8 52.9 40.2 BMI≥30.0 kg/m² 29.1 28.1 29.8 30.7 25.6 32.6 Daily smokers 25-34 y 30.3× 21.8 46.3 22.3 (x) p below 0.05 comparing years 2019-20 and 2009-10

The present review is designed to provide insight into population-based investigations of cardiovascular risk factors in Latvia. Most of them represent urban, rural and mixed populations. The results are age-standardised using the European Standard Population. All of the studies confirm a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors with wide differences across the studies. The differences are not consistent or regular and some of the underlying reasons are discussed. Analysis of the previous studies justifies the need for a nationwide cross-sectional epidemiological study, which in a small country can be carried out in compliance with all the requirements for a population-based epidemiological study.