Search

Introduction/Objective. Recognizing the reasons for the unmet health needs of adolescents and young adults is important for identifying the barriers in solving certain health problems, as well as for monitoring the availability, level of use and implementation of healthcare. The aim of this study was to establish the socio-demographic and socio-economic parameters associated with unmet healthcare needs of adolescents and young adults in Serbia. Methods. This cross-sectional study is a part of the 2019 Population Health Survey of Serbia, carried out by Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia in cooperation with the Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut Institute of Public Health of Serbia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, on a stratified two-stage sample. The survey included 1519 respondents, aged 15–24 years. The instruments and methodology of the European Health Survey – third wave (EHIS-wave 3) were used. Factors associated to unmet healthcare needs were examined using logistic regression and the χ2 test. Results. Unfulfilled health needs were present in 4.1% of respondents, and the dominant reasons were finances (44.4%) and long waiting times (34.9%), distance from health institutions was recorded in 1.6% of respondents, while 19.5% of respondents stated several reasons. Multivariate analysis revealed that significant parameters of unmet healthcare needs include age, region, marital, and employment status. Conclusion. The results of this research can give a new direction in creating strategies and defining preventive programs to reduce inequality in the health of adolescents and young adults improve the health of future young generations.

Gluten-related disorders are a heterogeneous group of clinical entities caused by intolerance to wheat, rye, and barley flour components. They occur in 3–5% of genetically predisposed persons and, based on pathogenic and clinical features, are classified into celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy. There are also specific entities such as dermatitis herpetiformis or gluten ataxia, which can occur either within the celiac disease or independently. This article based on the current knowledge shows the basic details of the pathogenesis, clinical expression, diagnosis, and treatment of these disorders.

Introduction/Objective. Previous studies have confirmed the effect of different meteorological parameters on patients suffering from lung diseases. The objective of the study is to investigate the impact of meteorological phases on the death rate from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods. The data on the number of deaths caused by COPD and meteorological phases during a five-year period (2011–2015) in Šumadija District (Central Serbia) were obtained from the Republic Hydrometeorological Service and the Center for Biostatistics and Informatics of the Kragujevac Institute of Public Health. Results. A statistically significant correlation was determined between certain meteorological phases and COPD death rate. The highest death rate was determined during colder months, February and March. The lowest death rate was detected during the warm months (June–September). Although men died more often from COPD than women, the death rate of women showed a considerable increase during the five-year period. Conclusion. COPD death rate is highly dependent on the season of the year and might be associated with certain meteorological phases. There is a need for further research of the impact of meteorological phases on the morbidity and mortality from COPD.

Introduction/Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine if patient-related factors, such as hospitalization length and preoperative use of walking aids, and geometrical factors, measured with antero-posterior radiographs of hip, affect the risk of hip dislocation after total hip arthroplasty. Methods. A total of 36 of 433 (8.31%) patients with hip dislocation were identified in the institutional registry during a two-year period. The data for patients with and without hip dislocation were matched and compared. Results. Hip dislocation more often occurred in patients who had used walking aids before the operation compared to the ones who had not (p < 0.001). Also, a difference in the number of hip dislocations was noticed between the patients who stayed longer in the hospital after THA (p < 0.001). The patients with higher acetabular inclination angle (p < 0.005) and height of greater trochanter (p < 0.001) on radiographs had been more prone to hip dislocation. In addition to this, the “safe-zone” was not identified in our study (p > 0.005). Conclusion. Several factors which influence hip dislocation were identified in this study: patient characteristics and radiograph characteristics. Both groups of factors require attention and monitoring in future studies.

Introduction/Objective. Strict gluten-free diet for life is the only treatment for patients with coeliac disease. Limited selection of food options can affect their quality of life and cause problems in acceptance by their peers. The aim was to examine the subjective quality of life experience in children and adolescents with coeliac disease and to obtain a comprehensive representation of physical and mental impairments and social functioning compared to their healthy peers. Methods. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study. It included 116 respondents aged 5–18 years with coeliac disease and 116 healthy children of similar age and sex. A Serbian version of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was used to measure the quality of life in children. Descriptive statistics were calculated to analyze all results, while t-test was used to compare them. Results. The mean value of total PedsQL score was lower in the coeliac disease patients (75.89 ± 20.35) than in the controls (86.35 ± 11.13). Additionally, the experimental group reported lower all PedsQL Scale scores than the control group in the domains of psychosocial, school, social, and emotional functioning. However, there was no statistically significant difference on the physical health scale. These results were the same in all age groups among both males and females. Conclusions. The disturbance of health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with coeliac disease is significant and the quality of life is lower if compared to their healthy peers.

Introduction. Physical activity and healthy diet, as lifestyle factors, are essential components in the prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases. Impared glucose intolerance (IGT) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. Dyslipidaemia is a cardiometabolic risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of moderate physical activity of plasma lipoprotein indicators in high-risk subjects for diabetes mellitus during one-year planned intervention. Methods. We randomly assigned 60 overweight subjects with IGT aged 30-60 years. The subjects were divided into intervention group with 30 subjects, who were intensively and individually instructed on weight reduction, nutrition and increased physical activity, and control group with 30 subjects, who were counselled, as standard, on nutrition and increased exercise. Total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (Tg) were measured at the beginning of the study, and at 2 months, 6 months, and at the end of the study (12 months). Results. Compared to the beginning of the study, after 2 and 6 months there was no statistically significant difference in serum lipid values. After 12 months, the average values of the measured lipid levels in the intervention group decreased by 18.36% for TC, 27.3% for LDL-C, and 34.2% for Tg (compared to 10.27%, 13.45%, and 10.4%, respectively in the control group). Value of HDL-C in the intervention group increased by 19.12%, and decreased in the control group by 1.48%. Total/HDL-C ratio was reduced by 30.6% and LDL-C/H by 38.1% in the intervention group (compared to 12.36%, and 15.9% in the control group). After 12 months, significantly greater decrease in TC (p

Introduction. Sudden hearing loss is a clinical entity of ambiguously defined aetiology manifested by hearing loss of more than 30 dB on three contiguous frequencies occurring within 72 hours. The lack of standard therapy protocol led to the use of variety of different therapies, thus making difficult objective quantification of their effect. Objective. The aim of the study was to present our experience in the treatment of sudden hearing loss with administration of vasoactive and corticosteroid therapy. Methods. Our research included 59 hospitally treated patients with a sudden hearing loss. During the period 1995-2004, 37 patients were treated using vasoactive agents (xanthinol nicotinate and pentoxifylline), and from 2004-2009, 22 patients were treated using parenteral corticosteroids (dexamethasone). All patients had unilateral sensorineural hearing loss of different level at frequencies from 500-4000 Hz, while other diagnostic procedures (laboratory tests, internist and neurology examinations, X-ray) were within normal limits. Evaluation of therapy effect was done by follow-up of hearing threshold changes and subjective complaints. Results. The results showed that full recovery was achieved in patients with a mild and not fully severe hearing loss, with the majority of those (73%) under corticosteroid treatment. In these patients recovery was also achieved more rapidly. A partial recovery of hearing was detected in patients with hearing loss of more than 80 dB, and mostly in patients treated with corticosteroids. Conclusion. Although statistical evaluation does not indicate significant differences between the application of vasoactive drugs or corticosteroids, clinical findings support advantages of corticosteroid therapy. Treatment of hearing loss, although controversial, requires change of some up-to-now used agents. Advantages should go in favour of contricosteroids.

Introduction. Biometeorological circumstances have a big influence on all traffic participants, especially reflexes, moving coordination and perception ability. With a lower attention and drivers’ and pedestrians’ concentration, there was a larger amount of pedestrian trauma in certain biometeorological phases. Objective. The aim of this study was to establish the correlation between pedestrian trauma and biometeorological phases. Methods. The comparative analysis of everyday biometeorological phases for the city of Kragujevac determined by RHMI and the evidence of knocked-down pedestrians from the Kragujevac traffic police for the period 2003-2008. Results. There were 6,127 accidents, with 696 knocked pedestrians in 666 (10.87%) accidents. Most of them happened in 2003 (135), and the fewest in 2005 (90). Most accidents were during December (74), the fewest were in June (46). The fewest accidents were during 04-05-06 hour interval (by 2), most during 13-14 hours (61). There were 374 males and 349 females. Most of the males (by 60) were 0-10 and 11-20 years old, most of the females (74) were 11-20 years old. There were 443 pedestrians who suffered slight body injuries (112 were 11-20), 225 suffered heavy and 28 had lethal injuries (most over 70). As provokers, the pedestrians suffered because of improper crossing roads (185), while as a casualties, they suffered due to speeding of vechicles (285). Most accidents happened in biometeorological phases 4 (168) and 9 (151), the fewest in phase 10 (4). Conclussion. Statistical analysis shows a significant correlation between pedestrians’ accidents and biometeorological phases, when the most accidents occurred during penetrations of cold fronts, while there was a sudden switch of weather conditions from warm-dry to cold-wet weather.

Introduction. Biometeorological circumstances have great influence on all traffic participants, especially on reflexes, movement coordination and perception ability, increasing the number of accidents. Motocyclists and bicyclists are specific participants in traffic, so their traumatism has its own special characteristics. Objective. The aim of this study was to establish biometeorological influence on motorcyclists and bicyclists accidents. Methods. Comparative analysis of everyday biometeorological phases for the city of Kragujevac determinated by the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia and motorcyclists and bicyclists accident evidence received from Kragujevac traffic police for the period 2004-2008. Results. There were 5,180 traffic accidents in this period, with 180 accidents in which 77 motorcyclists and 116 bicyclists were knocked down. Most of the accidents were in 2008 (53) and the least in 2005 (28). Most accidents occurred during August (28) and between 19.00 and 20.00 hours (18). There were no accidents during January, between 04.00 and 06.00 hours. There were 85% accidents in the urban area. Most of 169 males were aged 16-20 and 21-25 years (20 and 21). Most of 24 females (6) were aged 11-15 years. Those who caused the accident mostly sustained injuries due to improper speed limit (31), while the victims due to the disrespect of street-crossing priorities (32). Forty-one motorcyclists and 85 bicyclists suffered mild body injuries. Thirty-one motorcyclists and 27 bicyclist suffered severe injuries. Five motorcyclists and four bicyclists ended lethally. Most accidents happened in biometeorological phases 9 (63), 4 (32) and 1 (31). Conclusion. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between accidents and biometeorological phases, with most accidents occurring during stabile warm weather and rapid penetrations of cold fronts, and with a sudden switch of weather conditions.