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The coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital condition of the thoracic aorta., Aim: The aim of the study was assessment of atherosclerosis risk factors in adult patients after surgical treatment of aortic coarctation., Materials and Methods: 58 patients (36 male, 22 female) at median age of 27.46 ±10.57 were compared with 30 healthy, age and sex matched volunteers. The arterial blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting glucose, inflammation markers and the lifestyle factors were analyzed., Results: CoA patients have higher systolic blood pressure 136.55±16.27 vs 123.47±10.34 mmHg, p<0.001, fasting glucose 4.95±0.5 vs 4.65±0.46 mmol/l p=0.002, hsCRP 1.03±0.12 vs 0.89±0.14 mg/l p=0.025 and fibrinogen 2.55±0.34 vs 1.98±0.28 g/l p<0.001. Hyperlipidemia is more common 44.8% vs 23.3% p=0.048, treated with statin. When comparing hypertensive patients (N=28) with normotensive ones (N=30), the patients with arterial hypertension are older 33.5±12.23 vs 25.73±7.12 p=0.004, have higher body weight 78.03±14.58 vs 68.7±14.29 p=0.017, in this group more common are: hypoplastic aortic arch 28.6% vs 6.7% p=0.027, recoarctation 39.3% vs 13.3% p=0.024, cardiovascular disease 14.3% vs 0% p=0.032 and family history 21.4% vs 3.3% p=0.034., Conclusions: The coarctation of aorta is related to higher cardiovascular risk due to arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, higher glucose and inflammation markers levels when comparing with healthy population., (© 2018 MEDPRESS.)

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the type and frequency of prevalence of cardiac symptoms in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis., Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 54 patients (21 female, 33 male), with biopsy-proven pulmonary sarcoidosis. Mean age was 45.85 +/-11.77 years. According to time passed from diagnosis of sarcoidosis patients were divided into 2 subgroups. Additionally, age, sex, left ventricular ejection fraction, cigarette smoking and comorbidities were analyzed. Course and stage of sarcoidosis were also included in the analysis., Results: The frequency of cardiovascular symptoms in the study group was 87.04%. 59.26% of patients reported chest pain, the same subjects reported dyspnoea. 48.15% of respondents reported heart palpitations, 33.33% pre-syncope states, 12.96% syncope, and 37.04% edema of lower limbs. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of analyzed symptoms, depending on the duration of lung sarcoidosis., Conclusions: Patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis who report cardiovascular symptoms require further diagnostics.

Introduction: Low level of knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is related to higher risk of death and health educational programs are of particular importance in CVD prevention. Monitoring the level of knowledge of CVD risk factors is necessary to verify the effectiveness of education and to facilitate the right choice of education methods., Aim: to compare the assessment of knowledge of CVD risk factors in the population of Małopolska Voivodeship from the two independent cross-sectional studies., Material and Methods: Data of 973 respondents of M-CAPRI Study and 333 respondents of WOBASZ II Study, at age 20-69, were included to analysis. M-CAPRI study was carried out in 2014 and WOBASZ II - in the years 2013-2014. Knowledge of CVD risk factors was assessed by the same standard questionnaire in both studies. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the differences in knowledge of CVD risk factors between participants of M-CAPRI and WOBASZ II studies., Results: There were 80% of women and 71% of men, respondents of M-CAPRI Study who recognized theterm ,,risk factor” compared to 73% and 78% respectively in respondents of WOBASZ II Study. However, after adjustment for age and education the difference was statistically significant only in men. Respondents of M-CAPRI Study had knowledge of hypertension, high level of blood cholesterol, alcohol and unhealthy diet less frequently compared to respondents of WOBASZ II Study. Men from M-CAPRI Study had knowledge of diabetes and smoking less frequently but knowledge of low physical activity more frequently compared to men from WOBASZ II Study., Conclusions: The use of standard questionnaire in two independent cross-sectional studies appeared to be not sufficient to obtain reliable information on knowledge of CVD risk factors in Małopolska Voivodeship. In the studies that differed in the method of recruitment, participation and the technique of interview, the differences in the assessment of knowledge were substantial and it is impossible to assess which assessment was closer to the reality. However, the results of both M-CAPRI and WOBASZ II studies indicate that knowledge of CVD risk factors in Małopolska Voivodship is poor and there is a strong need to intensify health education.

INTRODUCTION The current guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in clinical practice emphasizes the importance of education in the media for population-‑based approaches. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between knowledge of CVD risk factors and watching educational television materials in the adult population. PATIENTS AND METHODS After 22 months of repeated broadcasting of educational television materials, which addressed problems related to CVD, a postal survey was conducted on a random sample of 5000 persons aged 18 years or older. The questionnaire included information on demographics, personal and family history of CVD, educational materials, and knowledge of the risk factors. A multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the knowledge of each risk factor and watching educational materials. RESULTS A total of 1129 questionnaires were sent back and used for the analysis. There were 208 participants (18%) who watched the educational materials. The median number of the risk factors listed was 4 (interquartile range, 2-5) for persons who watched the materials and 2 (interquartile range, 0-4) for those who did not watch them. After adjustment for age, sex, education, place of residence, and personal and family history of CVD, the participants who watched the educational materials were 2 to 5 times more likely to have knowledge on particular risk factors, with the exception of hypercholesterolemia for which the relationship was not significant. CONCLUSIONS A strong, plausible relationship revealed by our study supports the idea that in the adult population, better knowledge of CVD risk factors was the effect of watching educational materials.

[b]Introduction.[/b] Education is a key tool in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Education programmes require monitoring of their effectiveness. [b]Objectives. [/b]1) to introduce postal screening for the assessment of knowledge on CVD risk factors (RFs) for the Polish population, 2) to assess this knowledge in adult residents of Małopolska Voivodeship, and 3) to assess whether knowledge on RFs is related to age, gender, place of residence, level of education and family history of CVD. [b]Materials and method.[/b] Anonymous questionnaires were posted to a random sample of 5,000 residents of Małopolska Voivodeship in Poland. Results were presented as proportions of participants who listed RFs correctly. A series of multiple logistic regression models was used to assess the associations of knowledge on RFs with the potential determinants. [b]Results.[/b] 1,126 completed questionnaires were returned. Over 35% of respondents could not list a single RF and 14 % listed only 1-2 RFs. About 40% named 3-5 and only 12% listed 6 or more RFs. About a half of the respondents listed incorrectly from 1-8 characteristics as being associated with higher risk of CVD. In the multivariate analysis, knowledge on RFs was not significantly associated with age. Level of education was the strongest determinant of knowledge. Male rural and small town residents had less knowledge, whereas women with a family history of CVD had more knowledge on some CVD RFs. [b]Conclusions.[/b] Using a postal questionnaire for the assessment of knowledge of CVD RFs in the population of Małopolska Voivodeship appeared to have serious limitations due to low participation in the study. Despite this, the results of the study indicate that knowledge on CVD RFs is insufficient. Female gender and higher education were related to more prevalent knowledge on RFs. Family history of CVD was related to better knowledge in women only. Male residents of rural areas and small towns had slightly less knowledge on CVD RFs.

Background: Providing knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is the main component of prevention pro-grammes, which aim to reduce the exposure to these factors and decrease CVD incidence and mortality. However, evidence linking knowledge of CVD risk factors and the risk of death is scarce., Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the relation between knowledge of CVD risk factors and the risk of death from all causes in middle-aged residents of Krakow and to assess whether this relation depends on the level of education., Methods: The study sample included 1756 men and 1788 women selected from a population of Krakow residents at age 45-64 years. Knowledge of CVD risk factors was assessed for every risk factor separately using a standard questionnaire. Results were summarised by calculating the "knowledge index" (from -15 to 15 points). Information on deaths was obtained from the registry of Krakow residents. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the relation between knowledge of CVD risk factors and all-cause mortality., Results: At baseline examination the participation rate was 66% in men and 65% in women. The proportion of participants with secondary or higher education was 61% in men and 66% in women. Distribution of knowledge index was right skewed, and the median was 11 (interquartile range: 9-13) in both sexes. Median time of follow-up was 14.35 years (interquartile range: 14.30-14.39). There were 307 deaths in men and in women. Men with a low level of knowledge of risk factors had a higher risk of death. However, adjustment for education attenuated the association. After stratification by the level of education, in men with secondary education or higher, an inverse relation between the knowledge of CVD risk factors and the risk of death was found. In this group, men with a low level of knowledge of CVD risk factors had about a 60% higher risk of death, compared to men with high knowledge. In men with low education and in women the risk of death was not associated with knowledge of risk factors., Conclusions: In a Krakow population characterised by a high proportion of residents with secondary or higher education, the association between knowledge of CVD risk factors and the risk of death depended on sex and the level of education. A lower level of knowledge of risk factors was associated with a higher risk of death only in men with secondary or higher education.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death in Poland. The prevalence of CVD risk factors is regionally differentiated. Awareness of their presence in the population is crucial for identification of high-risk patients and implementation of appropriate preventive intervention. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the prevalence and knowledge of modifiable CVD risk factors among patients of primary health care in Malopolska., Material and Methods: The study was conducted among participants of Małopolska CArdiovascular Preventive Intervention Study (M-CAPRI). Standardized questionnaire and clinical evaluation was conducted in a total of 978 consecutive patients (aged 45.7±13.0) without known CVD in randomly selected primary care units in Małopolska., Results: The most common major modifiable CVD risk factor was hypercholesterolemia (648; 66.3%) while predisposing was incorrect nutrition (890; 91.0%). The prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and obesity was increased with age but cigarette smoking, low physical activity and poor nutrition remain unchanged. CVD risk assessed using Pol-SCORE charts was high or very high in 104 (16.9%) and moderate in 369 (59.5%) patients. Each of the modifiable CVD risk factors was often identified by people with higher education and educated beforehand by a doctor or nurse. The presence of a particular CVD risk factor was not associated with better knowledge of it except for diabetes (OR 3.44, 95% CI 0.996-11.863)., Conclusions: Educated patients have better knowledge on CVD risk factors. Identification of CVD risk factors and education about them should be implemented during visits in primary health care.

Unlabelled: This prospective study aimed to determine whether carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and biomarkers can enhance the predictive value of classic atherosclerosis risk factors (RFs) for cardiovascular (CV) event risk in patients with confirmed atherosclerosis., Methods: Baseline levels of hs-CRP, Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Nt-proBNP were measured in 304 subjects (189 men) aged 64.2±9.4 years, with confirmed atherosclerotic occlusive disease. Maximum CIMT values of common, bulb and internal carotid arteries were measured and expressed as mean CIMT value. The incidences of CV death, myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke (IS) and symptomatic lesion progression were recorded., Results: During 44.7±12.1 months of follow-up, CV events occurred in 61 (20.1%) patients. Age (odds ratio: OR=1.04; p=0.013), diabetes (OR=2.01; p=0.007), LDL-cholesterol>3.35mmol/L (OR=2.03; p=0.007), previous MI (OR=2.14; p=0.003) and previous IS (OR=3.35; p<0.001) were found independent CV event RFs. Adding biomarkers or CIMT to classic RFs revealed that levels of TNF-α>6pg/mL (OR=1.77; p=0.024), hs-CRP>6mg/L (OR=1.69; p=0.009) or CIMT>1.25mm (OR=5.11; p<0.001) were independently associated with CV event risk. While Nt-proBNP was found RF of CV death (OR=1.19; p=0.003) and MI (OR=1.19; p=0.002). In patients with RFs plus TNF-α>6pg/mL and hs-CRP>6mg/L, a 2- and 5-year event-free survival was 8% and 4%, respectively, as compared to 42% and 33% in those with RFs but lower TNF-α and hs-CRP levels. While, CIMT<1.25mm increased a 2- and 5-year CV event-free survival probability to 79% and 73%, respectively, despite classic RFs presence., Conclusion: Additive value of TNF-α, hs-CRP and CIMT to classic RFs in CV risk stratification was found in patients with confirmed atherosclerosis. Nt-proBNP was found an independent risk factor of CV death and MI., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The analysis of data obtained during cardiopulmonary test at rest and during progressively increasing work rate exercise testing can be used to determine accurately cardiac functioning and cell respiration. The cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) should be carried out according to the detailed description of testing procedures. The pre-test provides the patient with practical trials and instruction. The next stages of the testing are: the rest (preparing the patients, resting spirometry), warm-up (resting metabolism), exercise of incremental work rate, recovery. The aim of the paper is to present the main parameters: maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), anaerobic threshold (AT), threshold of the decompensated metabolic acidosis (TDMA), heart rate reserve, oxygen pulse (O2-puls), tidal volume (VT), breathing reserve, physiologic dead space and tidal volume ratio (VD/VT). Our objective is to familiarize the reader with the most modern examination methods which allow for evaluation of disorders in cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. CPX eliminates subjective evaluation which makes easy the diagnosis and estimation of the results of the treatment of many diseases.