Katarina Hirosova

Environmental Noise and Annoyance in the Urban Area at Different Time Intervals

Environmental (community) noise, particularly road traffic noise, has attracted widespread attention in recent decades as a major environmental health concern. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of environmental noise on psychosocial well-being of young healthy individuals and to follow the time trends of exposure in the period of 10, 15, 20, 25 years. The validated methodology was used to assess noise annoyance, interference with activities and sleep disturbance; the objectification of noise levels was done by direct measurement using sound level analyzer with a module for frequency analysis. The results revealed the sharp increase during the years 1989 and 1999 (the period of political and socio-economic transformation and the changes in traffic management) and the decrease in the year 2013. The findings of our study indicate the need for preventive measures to reduce environmental noise exposure in residential areas and to emphasize the importance of the elaboration of methods for environmental noise exposure risk assessment.

The impact of selected environmental, behavioral and psychosocial factors on schoolchildren’s somatic and mental health

Abstract Children develop rapidly and many exogenous determinants of health significantly affect their somatic and mental development. There is a subjective perception of cognitive load associated with the educational process. The aim of the study is to assess individual environmental, behavioral and psychosocial factors influencing physical health and to investigate the amount of mental load in children. We investigated 87 schoolchildren (47 girls and 40 boys) aged 10–12 years, who were attending primary school in Bratislava. To assess values of selected factors we used a questionnaire form and personality characteristics were estimated by standardized psycho-diagnostic and IQ tests [range of classic fear, social-situation anxiety and jitters [skala Klasickeho strachu a Socialno-situacnej (in Slovak)] (KSAT), Eyesenck Personality Questionnaire for children (EPQ), Raven’s IQ test]. Self-reported perception of mental load was assessed by questionnaire of subjective feelings and states (SFS). Children’s body parameters were assessed using anthropometric measurements [height, weight, chest, abdominal and hip girth, Rohrer’s index (RI), body mass index (BMI)] and a body fat measurement method (skinfold thickness). The results confirmed a significant relationship between higher parameters of overweight and obesity and irregular breakfast eating (p<0.05), absence of family dining (p<0.05), exposure to tobacco smoke in the family environment (p<0.01) and mother’s level of education (p<0.05). Almost 60% of children reported high mental effort and cognitive load associated with the educational process. We note a close relationship between the higher mental load and the score of neuroticism (p<0.01). The physical and mental health of schoolchildren is significantly affected by exogenous factors. Therefore, in terms of protection and promotion of children’s health, it is important to evaluate and monitor environmental risk factors and to form their healthy habits.

The Average Annual Percent Change Analyzes of Preventive Dental Care in the Slovak Republic, 2014-2016

Objective: To analyse of the average annual percent change (AAPC) of registered dental patients, patients with preventive dental care and patients requiring dental treatment in the period of 2014-2016 in the Slovak Republic. Material and Methods: Data from registered dental patients (n=14,736,888), patients with preventive dental care (n=8,212,441) and patients requiring dental treatment (n=5,262,323) in the period of 2014-2016 were obtained from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic; 28,211,652 dental patients were analysed. The Theil-Sen estimator of trend line based on median and its significance was tested by nonparametric Wilcoxon test using statistical software R package. Results: The significant decrease (-4.11%) of the AAPC rates of registered dental patient (p<0.05) during the entire period (2014-2016) can be observed in age subcategory 15-18 years, while in age subcategory 19+ years the non-significant increase (1.08%) of the AAPC rate of registered dental patients in the same period was achieved. In the period of 2014-2016, the highest AAPC rate of patients with preventive dental care with the significant decrease was found in age subcategory 6-14 years (-17.19%; p<0.001). The AAPC rate of patients requiring dental treatment proved the significant negative values in age subcategory 0-5 years (-7.26%; p<0.01), in age subcategory 6-14 years (-9.33%; p<0.001), in age subcategory 15-18 years (-8.81%; p<0.01). Conclusion: The highest decrease AAPC rate of registered dental patients was observed in age subcategory 15-18 years. The statistical significant decrease AAPC rate of patients with preventive dental care was found in children ≤ 18 years. In patients requiring dental treatment (≤ 18 y.) was observed decrease AAPC rate.

Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Relation to Behavioral, Emotional, Social and Health Indicators of Slovak School Children

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure has been shown in general as a major environmental risk factor and deserves attention in vulnerable population groups. The aim of the project is to analyze the relationships among the ETS and behavior and health in 6−15-year-old children in Slovakia. The status of physical and mental health of children in relation to exposure to tobacco smoke was examined in a representative group of 1478 school children. The methods used, included anonymous questionnaires filled in by parents, Columbia Impairment Scale (CIS), Behavior Problem Index (BPI) and anthropometry. The prevalence of ETS exposure is the highest in the capital (27%) and southern cities. A significant association was found between ETS and age, socio-economic status, incompleteness of the family, level of mother’s education and a higher prevalence of respiratory diseases (26.7%). The relationships of ETS with emotional (CIS scores ≥ 16) and behavioral functions (BPI score ≥ 14) were significant in children exposed to mother’s or father’s smoking at home. In the multivariate analysis these associations were not significant; the factors such as income and completeness of the family were dominant. The results showed mostly the predominant impact of social factors on the physical and mental health status of Slovak school children.

The Analysis of Selected Malocclusion Risk Factors: A Pilot Study

Objective: To analyse selected malocclusion risk factors, their exposure time and overall malocclusion risk scores. Material and Methods: The self-prepared questionnaires were collected at dental practitioners’ waiting rooms from 6/2014 to 12/2015. The study group consisted of patients treated by dental braces (n=82; 15.5±4.4 years) and the control group consisted of other patients not treated by dental braces (n=45; 17.6±4.7 years). Data were processed by the statistical program SPSS using descriptive statistics. To verify the hypothesis wad used two sample t-test to compare the average exposure scores and the exposure time between the two groups. To determine associations between categorical variables was used Chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p-value <0.05. Results: Our results confirmed longer exposure times in all studied malocclusion risk factors, in the case of pacifier sucking the difference was significant (p=0.001). The longest exposure time was found in mouth breathing in the study group (12.2±6.5 years). The lip sucking/chewing cannot be confirmed as a malocclusion risk factor. The study group had higher level of an overall mean risk score (19.8±11.5) compared the control group (16.1±12.1), although not significant. It can be concluded that non-nutritive sucking habits and/or mouth breathing could have damaging effect to normal teeth development. Conclusion: Malocclusions could be preventable, thus we recommend setting up educational programs for dentists and paediatricians as well as for parents focusing on the improvement of oral health knowledge.

Prevalencia nadváhy a obezity u adolescentov a jej asociácia s kardiometabolickými rizikovými faktormi a životným štýlom

V sucasnosti celosvetovo sledujeme narast prevalencie obezity ako jedneho z rizikových faktorov kardiovaskularnych chorob nielen v dospelej populacii, ale už aj u deti a mladistvých. V praci prezentujeme prevalenciu nadvahy a obezity v subore 2 629 adolescentov (45,8 % chlapcov) vo veku 14-18 rokov a porovnanie vybraných kardiometabolických markerov v skupine s normalnou hmotnosťou a v skupine s nadvahou/obezitou so zreteľom na telesnu zdatnosť a vybrane faktory životneho stýlu. Uskutocnili sme zakladne antropometricke vysetrenie zamerane na nadvahu/obezitu, celkovu telesnu zdatnosť sme hodnotili pomocou Ruffierovho testu. Z venoznej krvi sa vysetril kompletný lipidový profil, hladina glykemie, C-reaktivny protein a homocystein, z vysetrených parametrov sme vypocitali hladinu LDL-cholesterolu a aterogenny index plazmy (log TAG/HDL-cholesterol). Merali sme krvný tlak a pokojovu pulzovu frekvenciu, objektivne vysetrenie doplnilo vyplnenie obsiahleho dotaznika, kde sme sa zamerali najma na vybrane charakteristiky životneho stýlu. V pasme nadvahy/obezity bolo 30,7 % chlapcov (13,1 % obeznych) a 22,9 % dievcat (7,9 % obeznych). Adolescenti s nadvahou/obezitou mali s výnimkou glykemie a hladiny homocysteinu vsetky biochemicke ukazovatele významne horsie, mali významne vyssie priemerne hodnoty krvneho tlaku, rýchlejsiu pokojovu pulzovu frekvenciu (chlapci významne) a horsie ukazovatele telesnej zdatnosti; metabolický syndrom sme zistili u 5,5 % adolescentov s nadvahou/obezitou. V skupine s normalnou hmotnosťou pozorujeme v stravovacom režime castejsiu a pravidelnejsiu konzumaciu jednotlivých denných jedal, významne vyssi priemerný pocet jedal denne, nevýznamne dlhsie trvanie týždennej telesnej aktivity, kratsi cas venovaný sledovaniu TV a u chlapcov dlhsie trvanie spanku. Výsledky potvrdili horsi kardiovaskularny rizikový profil a výskyt metabolickeho syndromu v skupine s nadvahou/obezitou už v adolescentnom veku a potrebu intenzivnej primarnej prevencie a intervencie zameranu najma na prevenciu obezity už od najmladsich vekových skupin.