Samuel Koróny

Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and its use for the identification of fireball fragmentation

We propose an application of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for rapidity distributions of individual events in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. The test is particularly suited to recognizing nonstatistical differences between the events. Thus when applied to a narrow centrality class it could indicate differences between events that would not be expected if all events evolved according to the same scenario. In particular, as an example we assume here a possible fragmentation of the fireball into smaller pieces at the quark/hadron phase transition. Quantitative studies are performed with a Monte Carlo model capable of simulating such a distribution of hadrons. We conclude that the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is a very powerful tool for the identification of the fragmentation process.

Similarity of Slovak regions in neoplastic mortality in the context of risk factors and access to health care

AIM Access to primary health care is highly connected to the prevention of cancer mortality, since the risk factors threatening health can be early identified. The aim of this paper is, firstly, to explore similarity within and between the regions of the Slovak Republic and cancer mortality patterns, and secondly, to reveal if similar regions are characterised by the similar access to health care or risk factors occurrence. METHODS Data on deaths by sex, type of cancer death and region from 1996 to 2014 is provided by the National Health Information Centre of Slovakia. The relationships between 8 regions and 16 cancer types are described by correspondence analysis for both sexes. RESULTS The most similar cancer mortality patterns among Slovak regions are between the Nitra and Trnava regions for both sexes, and the Košice region for males. The Prešov region is showed as an outlier from other regions for females, likely due to the highest concentration of Roma marginalised communities. As for access to health care, the Trnava region as well as Nitra region report the lowest densities of physicians, 2.4 and 2.6 per 1,000 inhabitants, respectively. The most serious cancer types mortality is attributed to the digestive organs (C15-C26) in each Slovak region for both sexes with the average proportion of 35.56%. Observed high association between the Nitra region and respiratory cancer (C30-C39) in males may be confirmed by the increased incidence of radon in this region. Similarly, a tight relationship between the Bratislava region and cancer of male genital organs (C60-C63) can relate to the highest proportion of drug users in the Bratislava region. CONCLUSIONS Based on the findings of similar regions in cancer mortality patterns, we recommend to set the same prevention programs in the Trnava and Nitra regions, on the other hand, different preventive interventions should be introduced in the Prešov region.

Influence of demographic determinants on the number of deaths caused by circulatory system diseases in comparison to the number of deaths caused by neoplasms in Slovak regions from 1996-2014

OBJECTIVES The objective of our study was to evaluate the influence of available demographic determinants on the number of deaths caused by circulatory system diseases as compared to deaths caused by neoplasms in Slovakia in 1996-2014. METHODS Mortality data were kindly provided by the National Health Information Centre in Slovakia. The first method was trend curve fitting of death ratios caused by circulatory system diseases (Chapter IX) and of deaths caused by neoplasms (Chapter II) as a function of age for both sexes. The second method comprised a decision tree for classification between deaths caused by Chapter IX and Chapter II diseases. Input variables were available demographic indicators: age, sex, marital status, region, and calendar year of death. Statistical data analyses were performed by IBM SPSS version 19 statistical software. RESULTS We found that the odds ratios of deaths caused by circulatory system diseases (Chapter IX) in comparison with deaths caused by neoplasms (Chapter II) were non-decreasing. At first, the values of odds ratios are constant until they reach a critical sex-dependent value with a subsequent steady increase. In the case of men the odds ratio was greater than in the 60 years age-group where the odds ratio value increased slowly (from 1.14 at age 60 to 7.25 at age 90 years). The relative increase was 6.36 (7.25/1.14). The odds ratio in the women group was smaller but increased more rapidly (from 0.81 at age 60 to 12.27 at age 90 years). The relative increase was 15.15 in women (12.27/0.81). Hence, the odds ratio of death caused by Chapter IX diseases vs. Chapter II was greater in the older women group (i.e. higher age values). Utilizing the decision tree model, we have found that the most significant demographic determinant of death counts in both ICD Chapters was the age of the deceased, followed by marital status and finally gender. The last two predictors (year and region) were relatively negligible though formally significant. CONCLUSIONS The proposed method could be useful for prognostic classification of patients and primarily beneficial for hospitals in human or financial resources planning.

Influence of demographic factors on standardised rate ratio of age-adjusted mortality rates of men in comparison with women caused by neoplasms and circulatory diseases in Slovak regions during 1996-2013

AIM The aim of our study was to find statistical associations including trends of standardised rate ratio of age-adjusted mortality rates for the male population as compared to the female population, in relation to available demographic factors (Chapter II - Neoplasms vs. Chapter IX - Diseases of the circulatory system, Slovak region and calendar year of death). METHODS Dataset of individual cases of death in Slovakia with some demographic factors during 1996-2013 were provided by Slovak National Health Information Center. We used regression and correlation analyses, as well as analyses of variance and covariance along with descriptive statistics. RESULTS The standardised rate ratio of age adjusted mortality rates of men versus age-adjusted mortality rates of women differs between Chapter II and Chapter IX (mean 2.08 vs. 1.35, p<0.001). There are also significant differences of standardised rate ratio among regions (p<0.05). Trends show that the standardised rate ratio has significant regional decline for Chapter II: Košice (p<0.01), Trenčín (p<0.001) and Žilina (p<0.05) whereas in Chapter IX Žilina region (p<0.01) is implicated. In other Slovak regions standardised rate ratio stagnates. CONCLUSIONS Standardised rate ratios of age-adjusted mortality rates for the male population compared to the female population are significantly dependent on chapter, sex and region. Standardised rate ratios either decline or stagnate.

Age-adjusted mortality rates of neoplastic and circulatory diseases and their demographic factors in Slovak regions during 1996–2013

AIM Knowledge of the causes of deaths in Slovakia is lacking. This is significant because diet and lifestyle factors are different in central Europe compared to Western, Northern and Southern Europe. This study aims to discern trends of age-adjusted mortality rates caused by various diseases in relation to demographic factors. The aim of our study was to find certain statistical aspects including trends of age-adjusted mortality rates caused by neoplastic (Chapter II) and circulatory diseases (Chapter IX) in the Slovak population in relation to available demographic factors (sex, region and calendar year of death). METHODS Dataset of individual deaths in Slovakia with certain demographic factors (sex, region and calendar year of death) during 1996-2013 were provided by the Slovak National Center of Health Informatics. Regression and correlation analyses and analyses of variance and of covariance were used to yield the level of significance. RESULTS We found significant differences of age-adjusted mortality rates between men and women, between Chapter II and Chapter IX and among Slovak regions. Age-adjusted mortality rates decline significantly in most regions for both sexes with the exception of stagnation in four regions in a group of Chapter II women (Košice, Nitra, Trenčín and Žilina) and one region in Chapter IX, also in group of women (Žilina). CONCLUSIONS Mortalities caused either by Chapter II or Chapter IX diseases are significantly dependent on chapter, sex and region with mortalities either declining or stagnating.

Application of Malmquist Indices in Valuation Process of Adult Day Surgery System in Slovakia

In developed countries, day surgery has been used as a significant tool of efficiency increase in the health care system over the last few decades. However, its development is not sufficient in the Slovak conditions in spite of the support of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic. Its use in the unstable conditions of the Slovak health system represents the main reason. The paper presents a partial output of the research that focuses on day surgery development in order to increase an efficiency of the health system in Slovakia. Its primary aim is to highlight a significance of Malmquist indices’ application in evaluation of day surgery processes of adult patients. The outputs represent a valuable platform for health and social policies’ creators.