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Background/Aim. Population aging and the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases led to a rise in the number of people who live with more than one disease. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of multimorbidity in the working-age population (WAP) of Serbia. Methods. The study is part of “The 2019 Serbian National Health Survey”, a c ross-sectional study conducted on a representative stratified two-stage sample. For this paper, a representative data sample for 9,473 persons of the WAP (aged 15–64 years) was used. Multimorbidity was defined as the co-occurrence of two or more of 13 chronic conditions. Data on chronic conditions were self-reported, and data on body mass and body height were measured. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess predictors of multimorbidity. Results. Multimorbidity prevalence among WAP was 12.0%, and it was significantly higher among women (13.3%) than in men (10.6%). The predictors of multimorbidity were: female gender, increasing age, lower level of education, lower income, unemployment, retirement, widowhood, and divorce. Being overweight and obese were associated with higher odds of multimorbidity in both men and women. Conclusion. Multimorbidity is an important public health problem amongst WAP in Serbia due to its high prevalence, especially among vulnerable groups, and its inequality in frequency among different socioeconomic groups.

Background/Aim. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common chronic conditions that is diagnosed on the basis of the condition symptoms, nasal endoscopy and computed tomograhpy (CT) of the nose and paranasal sinuses. There are two forms of CRS: CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). The aim of this paper was to determine if there is a correlation between the symptoms, nasal endoscopy and CT in patients with CRSsNP. Methods. The study included 110 patients with CRSsNP. The intensity of the symptoms assessed on the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the condition of nasal mucosa and the presence of nasal secretion was estimated by endoscopic examination of the nose while CT was used to determine the Lund-Mackay (LM) score values. Pearson’s coefficient of correlation was used for statistic data processing. Results. The severity of the disease as a whole (r = 0.509) and nasal discharge (r = 0.562) moderately correlated with CT. Nasal congestion (r = 0.354) and the reduction of loss of smell (r = 0.324) mildly correlated with CT, while facial pain/pressure (r = 0.218) had a very weak correlation with CT. The severity of the disease as a whole (r = 0.717) and nasal discharge (r = 0.821) strongly correlated with nasal endoscopy. Nasal congestion (r = 0.525) had a moderate correlation with nasal endoscopy while facial pain/pressure (r = 0.345) and the reduction of the loss of smell (r= 0.394) had a mild correlation with nasal endoscopy. A moderate correlation was found between nasal endoscopy and CT (r = 0.630). Conclusion. The severity of the disease as a whole and nasal discharge have more significant correlations both with nasal endoscopy and CT in relation to the correlations between other symptoms and nasal endoscopy, as well as CT. More significant correlations between the symptoms and nasal endoscopy in relation to the correlations between the symptoms and CT and the existence of a moderate correlation between nasal endoscopy and CT, enable a lesser use of CT diagnostics and only in precisely defined situatiations.

Background/Aim. Obesity is a complex and multifactorial condition related to morbidity, mortality, poor quality of life and many other problems. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and factors associated with them (demographic, socioeconomic factors and lifestyle) in adults aged 50 years and above in Serbia. Methods. This cross-sectional study, representative for the population in Serbia, was carried out in one-year period, including 6,932 people aged 50 and over. Individuals were interviewed and anthropometrically examined. The association between overweight and obesity with demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results. Age, level of education and smoking were significantly associated with overweight and obesity, regardless of gender. Marital status was significantly associated with obesity, regardless of gender and with overweight only in women. Breakfast consumption habit was significantly associated with obesity only in men. There was no significant association of overweight and obesity with the type of settlement, alcohol consumption and physical activity, regardless of gender. Conclusion. The results of our study indicate the need for more intensive implementation of measures affecting the factors which contribute to overweight and obesity. Emphasis should be put on the population-based policies and programs that support environmental changes.

Aims and objectives: To evaluate demographic and occupational factors of professional life on life satisfaction among nurses in Serbia and Poland. Background: Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, as aspects of a nurse's professional life, may affect their satisfaction with life in general. However, most studies on this topic have been conducted in Asian countries, and because there are differences in health care system performance across countries amid a global shortage of nurses, it is necessary to investigate professional quality of life in the European nursing context. Methods: This multicenter, comparative, and correlational study was conducted on a sample of 669 hospital nurses in Serbia and Poland. The survey data were collected between November 2019 and February 2020 using the Demographic and Occupational Questionnaire (DOQ), Professional Quality‐of‐Life Scale (ProQOL‐5), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). STROBE Statement guidelines for cross‐sectional studies were followed. Results: Most nurses from both countries reported having moderate compassion satisfaction, moderate risk for compassion fatigue, and an average life satisfaction. The predictive factors of life satisfaction that most stand out include country of origin, financial situation, education, job satisfaction, and compassion fatigue. Discussion and conclusion: Quality of professional life is significantly affected by shift duration, age, work experience, and job satisfaction. Negative aspects of professional life are significant predictors of life satisfaction. Implications for nursing policy: The findings of this study indicate a need for implementing flexible shift patterns and enhancing interventions that will improve job satisfaction and compassion satisfaction while reducing the risk of compassion fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. According to the literature that has been published over the last two decades Campylobacter spp i Listeria monocitogens can be identified as causes of numerous diseases derived by consuming food of animal origin. The purpose of this paper was to find out how established national microbiological criteria of the Republic of Serbia on food safety in retailed food of animal origin could contribute to consumer's protection against exposition to foodborne pathogens such as Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Methods. During a routine microbiological safety control of randomly selected 60 samples of fresh poultry meat, 30 samples of other fresh meat readymade for grilling, 30 samples of sausage products, 37 samples of heattreated meat, 39 samples of toppings for fast food of animal origin and 31 samples of dairy products a national food safety criteria (Escherichia coli, aerobic plate count, Salmonella spp., coagulasa positive Staphylococcus, Proteus spp., sulphitoreducting Clostridia) were applied and, as well as, testing to Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocitogens. In determination of Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocytogenes, food quality control methods of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) were applied, while in determination of the other above motioned bacteria, national provisions on microbiological methods were applied who are adjusted to the FAO ones. Results. Related to the national criteria on microbiological food safety, 88 (38.8%) samples, out of the total 227 tested, were rejected. When to these results, the results of laboratory tests on Listeria monocytogens were added, a terminal number of rejected samples were not changed. When to these results, the results of Campylobacter spp. testing were added, 91 (40.1%) out of the 227 samples were unsatisfied. Results of logistic regression model with occurrence of Escherichia coli as dependent variable indicated that Escherichia coli was 4.5 times likely to occur among samples with Campylobacter spp. than among samples without Campylobacter spp. (OR = 4.515, 95% CI: 1.019-20.002). Sensitivity of the fitted model (Hosmer-Lemeshow p = 0.268) was 76.8% and its specificity was 75.0%. At the same time Escherichia coli was confound in all (100%) food samples that were contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes. Conclusion. Statistical analysis indicated that Escherichia coli was completely sensitive to identify all samples contaminated with Listeria monocytogenas and highly sensitive to identify samples contaminated with Campylobacter spp. Nevertheless, 3 (1.3%) of the tested samples were not covered with Escherichia coli.

Background/Aim. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate and it is a manifestation of the epidemics of a sedentary lifestyle and excessive energy intake. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population of the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, and to examine the association between obesity and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Methods. A cross-sectional study conducted in the Province of Vojvodina in 2006 involved 3 854 participants aged 20 years and over (1 831 men and 2 023 women). The study was a countinuation of the baseline study conducted in 2000 (n = 2 840, 1 255 men and 1 585 women). The main outcome measures were overweight and obesity (Body Mass Index - BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2), sociodemographic factors, including nutrition habits - having breakfast everyday and television watching frequency. Results. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in both sexes in 2006 was 57.4% (35.7% were overweight and 21.7% obese). The prevalence of overweight was higher in men (41.1%) than in women (30.9%) (p < 0.001) while obesity was higher in women (23.1%) as compared to men (20.2%) (p = 0.035). For both sexes, overweight rates were highest at the age 60-69 (men 44.8% and women 39.1%) while obesity rates were peaked to men aged 50-59 (25.1%) and women aged 60-69 years (37.8%). Increasing ageing, males, rural population, single examinees, lower educational level, improved income, examinees that never/sometimes have breakfast and frequently watch TV were associated with obesity. Conclusions. The population of Vojvodina, with 23.1% obese women and 20.2% obese men is one of severely affected European populations. High prevalence of obesity requires urgent public health action. Healthy lifestyle, balanced nutrition with low energy intake and increased physical activity have to be promoted within a prevention strategy and obesity management.

Background: Data on the rate and severity of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections in real-world settings are scarce and the effects of vaccine boosters on reinfection risk are unknown., Methods: In a population-level observational study, registered SARS-CoV-2 laboratory-confirmed Vojvodina residents, between March 6, 2020 and October 31, 2021, were followed for reinfection ≥90 days after primary infection. Data were censored at the end of follow-up (January 31, 2022) or death. The reinfection risk was visualized with Kaplan-Meier plots. To examine the protective effect of vaccination, the subset of individuals with primary infection in 2020 (March 6-December 31) were matched (1:2) with controls without reinfection., Findings: Until January 31, 2022, 13,792 reinfections were recorded among 251,104 COVID-19 primary infections (5.49%). Most reinfections (86.77%, 11,967/13,792) were recorded in January 2022. Reinfections were mostly mild (99.17%, 13,678/13,792). Hospitalizations were uncommon [1.08% (149/13,792) vs . 3.66% (505/13,792) in primary infection] and COVID-19 deaths were very rare (20/13,792, case fatality rate 0.15%). The overall incidence rate of reinfections was 5.99 (95% CI 5.89-6.09) per 1000 person-months. The reinfection risk was estimated as 0.76% at six months, 1.36% at nine months, 4.96% at 12 months, 16.68% at 15 months, and 18.86% at 18 months. Unvaccinated (OR=1.23; 95%CI=1.14-1.33), incompletely (OR=1.33; 95%CI=1.08-1.64) or completely vaccinated (OR=1.50; 95%CI=1.37-1.63), were modestly more likely to be reinfected compared with recipients of a third (booster) vaccine dose., Interpretation: SARS-CoV-2 reinfections were uncommon until the end of 2021 but became common with the advent of Omicron. Very few reinfections were severe. Boosters may modestly reduce reinfection risk., Funding: No specific funding was obtained for this study., Competing Interests: None., (© 2022 The Author(s).)