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BACKGROUND We evaluated the prevalence of high blood pressure and the level of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a Serbian population. METHODS A cross-sectional study of an adult population was carried out across Serbia in 2006. The study involved 14 204 adults aged 20 years or older. Interviews and measurements of blood pressure were performed at participants' homes. RESULTS Overall, 47% of the Serbian adult population had hypertension: 25.3% had stage 1 hypertension and 18.1% had stage 2 hypertension. Only 58.0% of the hypertensive population were aware that they had the disease, and 60.4% were receiving medical treatment. Among those receiving medical treatment, only 20.9% had a blood pressure within the normal range. One in 10 participants with hypertension were not treated because, among other reasons, they thought treatment was unnecessary (55.3%) or they lacked money for medication (19.3%). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of undiagnosed and untreated hypertension is high in the adult population of Serbia. Further action is required to hasten detection and treatment of high blood pressure. Attention should be directed toward educational programs that improve knowledge, attitudes, and awareness of hypertension among adults.

Uvod: Najveći doprinos nejednakostima u zdravlju, koje postoje kako unutar, tako i između zemalja širom sveta, pripisuje se socijalno-ekonomskim determinantama zdravlja. Što je socijalno-ekonomsko stanje ljudi gore, to je veća verovatnoća da sopstveno zdravlje procenjuju kao lošije uz češće prisustvo zdravstvenih simptoma i hroničnih stanja. Cilj ove disertacije bio je da se ispita povezanost demografskih i socijalno-ekonomskih determinanti sa obolevanjem stanovništva, da se konstruišu indeksi obolevanja uz procenu njihove pouzdanosti i validnosti, i da se izvrši analiza i poređenje socijalno-ekonomskih nejednakosti u zdravlju u 2000. i 2006. godini. Metod: U ovoj studiji korišćeni su podaci iz dva nacionalna ispitivanja zdravstvenog stanja stanovnika Republike Srbije, sprovedenih 2000. i 2006. godine po tipu studije preseka na reprezentativnom uzorku odraslih osoba uzrasta 20 i više godina (9921 u prvom i 14.522 u drugom ispitivanju). Kao instrument ispitivanja zdravlja stanovnika korišćeni su upitnici. Rezultati: Kao najučestaliji prediktori obolevanja stanovništva izdvojile su se sledeće varijable: pol, godine starosti, obrazovanje, radni status i materijalno stanje domaćinstva. Ispitanici sa nižim obrazovanjem (UO=2,69 u 2000. godini; UO=3,08 u 2006. godini), nezaposleni (UO=1,24 u 2000. godini; UO=1,53 u 2006. godini), neaktivno stanovništvo (UO=1,58 u 2000. godini; UO=1,96 u 2006. godini) i oni sa lošijim materijalnim stanjem domaćinstva (UO=4,34 u 2000. godini; UO=5,03 u 2006. godini) češće procenjuju svoje zdravlje kao loše. Vrednosti korišćenih indeksa obolevanja su veće u istraživanju iz 2000. godine, što ukazuje na bolje zdravstveno stanje stanovništva u 2006. godini... Introduction: The greatest contribution to inequalities in health both within and between countries is attributable to the socioeconomic determinants of health. The lower the socioeconomic status, the higher the probability of reporting a poor self-perceived health and the higher the prevalence of health problems and cronic conditions. The aim of this doctoral dissertation was to examine the associations between demographic, socioeconomic determinants and morbidity of the population, to construct morbidity indices with assessment of their reliability and validity, and to analyze and compare socioeconomic inequalities in health between 2000 and 2006. Methods: Data from the 2000 and the 2006 National Health Surveys for Serbia were used, conducted as cross-sectional studies on a representative sample of adults aged 20 years and over (9921 in the first survey and 14,522 in the second survey). The information on population health was obtained from the questionnaires. Results: The most frequent predictors of morbidity of the population are: gender, age, education, employment status and financial situation of the household. Respondents with lower education (OR=2,69 in year 2000; OR=3,08 in year 2006), unemployed (OR=1,24 in year 2000; OR=1,53 in year 2006), inactive (OR=1,58 in year 2000; OR=1,96 in year 2006) and those with worse financial situation of the household (OR=4,34 in year 2000; OR=5,03 in year 2006) were more likely to report poor self-perceived health. The values of used morbidity indices were higher in 2000 National Health Survey, which implies better health status of the population in 2006...