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Aims: To investigate variations in smoking and associated factors on individual and aggregate level among adolescents in Tallinn (Estonia), Helsinki (Finland) and Moscow (the Russian Federation)., Methods: The data was collected in Tallinn (N=1268 in Estonian and N=901 in Russian schools), in Helsinki (N=1396) and in Moscow (N=618) from pupils aged 13-18 by self-administered questionnaire. Multilevel analysis was used to estimate the possible effects of background characteristics, of the proximity of other smokers and the school context on the tobacco use of pupils., Results: The prevalence rate of smoking among girls in Russian schools in Tallinn (34.6%), among girls in Helsinki (39.5%), and in Moscow (32.1%) was higher than that among girls in Estonian schools in Tallinn (17.6%). Smoking was slightly less prevalent among boys in Helsinki (27.5%), compared to boys in Estonian (33.6%) and Russian (35.6%) schools in Tallinn, and to boys in Moscow (32.8%). Smoking increased with age. Multilevel analysis showed that smoking differed by school among pupils. Individual determinants of smoking as study site, grade, friends', siblings' and parental smoking behaved differently depending upon school. Friends and siblings' smoking showed interaction with study site to the smoking among girls., Conclusions: Strategies aimed at influencing smoking behaviour need to be directed not only towards the individual, but also towards the influences within the child's school environment.

The paper contains data on prevalence of low, normal, excessive body mass and obesity among urban male populations aged 20-54 years in different regions. Relative risk of death associated with body mass was estimated on the basis of a twenty years prospective study of sample populations in Moskva and St-Peterburg and level of attributed risk was used for assessment of contribution of body mass to cardiovascular mortality and mortality from other chronic diseases. Levels of main risk factors, smoking intensity and alcohol consumption were studied in deciles of body mass index distribution.

The authors describe the results of a cooperative epidemiological screening of schoolchildren aged 11 to 14 years, living in Moscow, Tallinn and Novosibirsk. 1219 persons underwent screening in Moscow, 923 in Novosibirsk, and 1227 in Tallinn; the screening coverage was 88.3, 92 and 87.2%, respectively. The mean values of systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (AP), the anthropometric parameters, and of the degree of puberty are given with respect to the cities. The structure as well as predictors of high AP in schoolchildren differed with respect to the above-indicated cities. The highest AP values were identified in Moscow schoolchildren whereas the least ones in schoolchildren living in Tallinn. The data obtained were compared to those of the epidemiological screening of the male population aged 20 to 54 years, living in the same cities. A reverse correlation has been established.