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Background/aim: Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. There is growing evidence of the need for community-based programs on smoking cessation. The main purpose of this study is to establish the rate of smoking cessation and restarting in 1 year at the Balçova Smoking Cessation Center. Materials and methods: This is a prospective study with a study group of 359 individuals who quit smoking at the Balçova Smoking Cessation Center for at least 4 weeks between October 2009 and April 2010. The outcomes of the study were 1-year cessation rate and relapse rate. Individuals who reported restarting and/or had CO measurements above 6 ppm were accepted as quitters who had relapsed. Results: The 1-year rate of smoking cessation was 30.1% for the study group. Of the subjects who quit smoking, 50.1% started smoking again during the 1-year follow-up. Relapse rate was also higher in nicotine addicts. Pharmacological treatment was associated with increased success rates in smoking cessation. Conclusion: Nicotine dependency was shown to be associated with lower rates of smoking cessation and higher rates of relapse. Therefore, it is important to begin smoking cessation attempts before individuals become serious addicts.

Aim The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of socioeconomic status on health behaviors and perceived health. Methods The present cross-sectional study included 2947 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. Dependent variables were health behaviors and self-perceived health. The independent variable was socioeconomic status. Results In men, the risk of unhealthy diet was higher among the uneducated group (OR 4.48) and among those with poor/very poor economic status (OR 3.31). Additionally, in men, having poor/very poor self-perceived health was found to be 3.50-fold significantly higher among the uneducated group than the secondary school and higher-educated group. Lower education level and lower social class were found to be protective factors for smoking in women. In women, the risk of unhealthy diet was found to be 1.54- and 2.18-fold significantly higher, respectively, among those who graduated from primary school and uneducated. There was also a relationship between poor/very poor economic status and unhealthy diet among elderly women (OR 2.80). In women, the risk of physical inactivity was found to be 1.98-fold significantly higher in the uneducated group and 1.79-fold significantly higher in those with poor/very poor economic status, 0.33-fold significantly lower in skilled employees/white collar workers. With regard to self-perceived health status, education level and perceived economic status were significantly related to poor/very poor health status in women (OR 2.09 and OR 4.08, respectively). Conclusion In older men and women, lower socioeconomic status increases the risk of unhealthy diet and poor health perception. In older women, lower socioeconomic status is a protective factor for smoking, but it also increases physical inactivity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 960–968.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada amaç, KKH riski olup Toplum Tabanlı Sigara Bırakma Merkezi’ne davet edilenlerin başvurusuna etki eden faktörlerin belirlenmesidir. Yöntem: Balçova’da yaşayan 30 yaş üzeri kişilerin KKH risk durumlarının belirlendiği ve buna yönelik girişimlerin planlandığı Balçova’nın Kalbi(BAK) projesi kapsamında 2008 yılında yapılan durum saptama çalışmasında belirlenen Framingham risk düzeylerine göre KKH riski orta ve yüksek düzeyde riski olup sigara içen kişiler (1390 kişi) veri tabanından seçilmiştir. Projede eğitimli yedi kişiden oluşan Toplum Sağlığı Destek Grubu (TSDG) hedef gruba ev ziyaretleri ya da telefonla ulaşarak projeye katılmaları için merkeze davet etmişlerdir. Sigara Bırakma Merkezi’nde tüm hizmetler ücretsiz olarak sunulmuştur. Araştırmanın bağımlı değişkeni, Sigara Bırakma Merkezi’ne başvuru durumudur. Bağımsız değişkenleri ise yaş, cinsiyet, öğrenim durumu, medeni durum, sosyal güvence durumu, düzenli sigara içmeye başlama yaşı, günlük içilen sigara sayısı, sigara bırakmayı deneme, sigara bırakmayı düşünme, sigara bırakma hizmeti almak istemedir. Bulgular: Hedef grup olan 1390 kişiden %49’una(681) evinde ulaşılmıştır. Sigara Bırakma Merkezi’ne davet edilip randevu alan 444 kişiden %68.2’si başvurmuş, randevu almadığı halde başvuran 28 kişi de izleme alınmışlardır(n=330). Hedef grubun başvurusunu yaş, cinsiyet, medeni durum, öğrenim durumu, sosyal güvence durumu anlamlı olarak etkilememektedir. Sigarayı bırakmayı düşünenlerde, daha önce bırakmayı deneyenlerde ve sigara bırakma hizmeti almak isteyenlerde merkeze başvuru anlamlı olarak daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Toplum tabanlı olarak çalışmaya başlayan, KKH riski orta ve üzerinde olan kişilerin davet edilerek, ücretsiz hizmet sunulan bir sigara bırakma merkezinde davete yanıt verme düşüktür. Sigara bırakmada, KKH riski olanlarda bile, bireyin bu konudaki isteği hizmete ulaşmada önemli bir etkendir., Objective: The aim was to evaluate the factors that affect attendance at a community based smoking cessation center by people who are at risk of coronary heart disease. Method: The study population was drawn from/ obtained from the database of the Balçova Heart Study, and included those who were older than 30 years and had been assessed for their CHD risk status in a survey in 2008. Smokers, who are at medium or high risk according to the Framingham risk score, were selected (1390 people). Seven young people were trained as a Community Health Support Group in the project and they were invited the target the studygroup by visiting homes or by telephone. Services in the smoking cessation center were free of charge. The dependent variable of the study was attendance at the smoking cessation center. Independent variables were; socio-demographic variables, age when starting to smoke, number of cigarettes per day, attempts at cessation, considering cessation, willingness to participate in a smoking cessation service. Results: Forty nine percent of the target group was reached at their homes. Among the people who made an appointment (n=444), 68.2% had attended. The attenders and non-attenders from the target group did not differ statistically in age, gender, marital status, educational level or social security type. The people who had considered or attempted to quit or who wanted a support service in the baseline survey attended significantly more than the ones who had not.Conclusion: Less than one in three people with medium and high CHD risk and who were advised to attend, to a service provided free of charge. Willingness to quit is an important factor for attending the center, even in the high risk individuals.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of socioeconomic status on health behaviors and perceived health.The present cross-sectional study included 2947 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. Dependent variables were health behaviors and self-perceived health. The independent variable was socioeconomic status.In men, the risk of unhealthy diet was higher among the uneducated group (OR 4.48) and among those with poor/very poor economic status (OR 3.31). Additionally, in men, having poor/very poor self-perceived health was found to be 3.50-fold significantly higher among the uneducated group than the secondary school and higher-educated group. Lower education level and lower social class were found to be protective factors for smoking in women. In women, the risk of unhealthy diet was found to be 1.54- and 2.18-fold significantly higher, respectively, among those who graduated from primary school and uneducated. There was also a relationship between poor/very poor economic status and unhealthy diet among elderly women (OR 2.80). In women, the risk of physical inactivity was found to be 1.98-fold significantly higher in the uneducated group and 1.79-fold significantly higher in those with poor/very poor economic status, 0.33-fold significantly lower in skilled employees/white collar workers. With regard to self-perceived health status, education level and perceived economic status were significantly related to poor/very poor health status in women (OR 2.09 and OR 4.08, respectively).In older men and women, lower socioeconomic status increases the risk of unhealthy diet and poor health perception. In older women, lower socioeconomic status is a protective factor for smoking, but it also increases physical inactivity.

WOS: 000317361900003, PubMed ID: 23070631, Objective: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the largest cause of morbidity and mortality in Turkey and in the World. Heart of Balcova Project is a community-based health promotion project that aims to reduce CVD incidence and prevalence through risk factor modification in the individual and population level. This paper presents results of the baseline survey that aimed to define CVD risk factors and risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Balcova population. Methods: The study population included 36,187 people over 30 years of age residing in Balcova in 2007. Individuals were interviewed at their homes. Anthropometrics and blood pressure were measured and in total 12914 fasting blood samples were collected for lipid and glucose analyses. CHD risk was estimated using Framingham risk equation. Student's t test, Chi-square for trend test and ANOVA were used to compare mean levels and percentages of risk factors between age groups and gender. Results: In total 5552 men and 10528 women participated in the study. Smoking prevalence was 38.6% in men and 26.8% in women. The prevalence of obesity was 29.4% among men and 44.2% among women and obesity prevalence increased until the age group 75 years old. While 14.6% of men and 12.6% of women had diabetes, 39.8% of men and 41.8% of women had hypertension. The prevalence of high total cholesterol was 56.0% in men and 50.6% in women. Men had a higher risk of developing CHD compared to women in the following 10 years (13.4% vs 2.5%). Conclusion: The prevalence of preventable risk factors for CHD is very high in Balcova population. Community-based interventions should be planned and implemented targeting both the high-risk individuals and whole population. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2013; 13: 9-17), Balcova MunicipalityBelediyeler; Dokuz Eylul University Research FundDokuz Eylul University [2007161], This study was supported jointly by Balcova Municipality and Dokuz Eylul University Research Fund (Grant no:2007161)

Turkey is facing increasing rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study is designed to meet the growing need to obtain information about the recent status and trends of CVD risk factors and their impact on mortality. Balcova heart study (BHS) is a prospective cohort study, focusing on reducing the CVD risk factors of people over 30 years old living in Balcova District, Izmir, Turkey. Information about risk factors, anthropometric and biochemical measurements was collected in community centers. Interventions were planned, based on the 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and lifestyle characteristics with the collaboration of university and municipality. Mean age of the 16,080 participants was 52 years. The percentage of current smoking was 41.6 in men and 31.1 in women. One-third of the men were physically inactive. Hypertension was reported as 25% in men and 33% in women. The project is unique for being the first community-based cohort on CVD risk factors in a Turkish setting. This project will have a valuable contribution on not only determining CVD risks, but also incorporating interventions for prevention.