Marijan Erceg

Association of BMI and nutritional habits with hypertension in the adult population of Croatia.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to investigate the distribution of hypertension, its nutritional and other determinants and their association in Croatia. DESIGN Population-based, cross-sectional study. SETTING Croatia. SUBJECTS Representative random sample of 9070 adults (18 years and older) from all Croatian regions, selected using multistage sampling. RESULTS Overall prevalence of hypertension (arterial blood pressure >or=140/90 mmHg) in Croatia was 45.5 %, of which 40 % were newly diagnosed hypertensives. There was no difference in the percentage of hypertensives between the continental and Mediterranean parts of Croatia. Newly diagnosed hypertension was found to be positively associated with increased BMI, age and alcohol consumption in the total sample and with moderate consumption of coffee in women, as well as inversely associated with regular consumption of fruits and vegetables in the total sample and high consumption of coffee in the total sample and in men. No association with newly diagnosed hypertension was recorded for use of animal fat, consumption of whole milk, smoked meat products, for adding salt, smoking and leisure-time physical activity. CONCLUSIONS Hypertension is a major public health problem in both continental and Mediterranean parts of Croatia. Maintenance of normal body mass, its reduction if already increased, and regular consumption of fruits and vegetables are proposed as priorities for primary prevention of hypertension in Croatia.

Prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (2010–2013): The first Croatian report

Pneumocystis jirovecii is an important cause of interstitial pneumonia particularly among immunocompromised hosts. We analysed the prevalence of P. jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients presented with interstitial pneumonia or acute respiratory syndrome hospitalized in six Croatian tertiary care hospitals. Over four-year period (2010-2013), a total of 328 lower respiratory tract samples: 253 (77.1%) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, 43 (13.1%) tracheal aspirates and 32 (9.8%) bronchial aspirates from 290 patients were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCP was detected in 23 (7.9%) patients. The prevalence of PCP differed significantly among tested groups (χ2 = 95.03; d.f. = 3; p < 0.001). HIV-infected patients were more often positive (56.6%, 95%CI = 37.3-72.4) compared to other groups (patients with malignant disease 7.7%, 95%CI = 2.6-20.3; transplant patients 7.7%, 95%CI = 2.2-24.1; patients with other diagnosis 1.5%, 95%CI = 0.5-4.4). Majority of HIV-positive patients (80%) were newly diagnosed cases. Our results indicate that HIV-infected patients still represents the main risk group for P. jirovecii infection. PCP is responsible for pneumonia in 56.6% HIV-positive patients in Croatia, primarily those who do not know that they are HIV infected.

Association of BMI and nutritional habits with hypertension in the adult population of Croatia – Corrigendum

In the third paragraph of the Sample section on page 98, instead of: Data were collected by public health nurses from April to June 2003. They took anthropometric measures such as height, weight and blood pressure, and interviewed respondents. it should read: Data were collected by public health nurses from April to June 2003. They measured blood pressure and interviewed respondents. Height and weight were self-reported by respondents. This mistake occurred due to incorrect information published in Croatian Adult Health Survey. Users’ guide. In: 2003 Croatian Adult Health Survey Master Microdata File Documentation. Republic of Croatia Ministry of Health. Health Systems Project IBRD Loan 4513-0 HR. Zagreb; 2003.