Key result
Czech 31-year trends show improving major CV risk factors, including a ~47% reduction in male smoking.
Why the study?
Cardiovascular mortality decline was delayed in former communist European countries compared to Western Europe, prompting assessment of longitudinal trends in major cardiovascular risk factors in the Czech Republic from 1985 to 2016/17.
Cross-Sectional (n=15,656)
Yes
Absolute Event Rate: 23.9% vs 45%
p-value: p=<0.001
Significant improvements in major cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure, cholesterol, and male smoking rates, were observed in the Czech population between 1985 and 2016/17, contributing to decreased cardiovascular mortality.
Risk factor gains may underlie Czech CV mortality declines; leaves open causality and generalizability from observational trends.
BACKGROUND: Compared with Western Europe, the decline in cardiovascular (CV) mortality has been delayed in former communist countries in Europe, including the Czech Republic. We have assessed longitudinal trends in major CV risk factors in the Czech Republic from 1985 to 2016/17, covering the transition from the totalitarian regime to democracy. METHODS: There were 7 independent cross-sectional surveys for major CV risk factors conducted in the Czech Republic in the same 6 country districts within the WHO MONICA Project (1985, 1988, 1992) and the Czech post-MONICA study (1997/98, 2000/01, 2007/08 and 2016/2017), including a total of 7,606 males and 8,050 females. The population samples were randomly selected (1%, aged 25-64 years). RESULTS: Over the period of 31/32 years, there was a significant decrease in the prevalence of smoking in males (from 45.0% to 23.9%; p < 0.001) and no change in females. BMI increased only in males. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in both genders, while the prevalence of hypertension declined only in females. Awareness of hypertension, the proportion of individuals treated by antihypertensive drugs and consequently hypertension control improved in both genders. A substantial decrease in total cholesterol was seen in both sexes (males: from 6.21 ± 1.29 to 5.30 ± 1.05 mmol/L; p < 0.001; females: from 6.18 ± 1.26 to 5.31 ± 1.00 mmol/L; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The significant improvement in most CV risk factors between 1985 and 2016/17 substantially contributed to the remarkable decrease in CV mortality in the Czech Republic.
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Cífková et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular risk factors (n=15,656). Time period (2016/17) vs. Time period (1985) was evaluated on Prevalence of smoking in males (%) (p=<0.001). Over a 31-year period in the Czech Republic, major cardiovascular risk factors improved significantly, including a reduction in male smoking from 45.0% to 23.9% and decreased total cholesterol in both sexes.
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