Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and geographic distribution of overweight and obesity in Russian adults aged 25–64 years as well as the association between chronic risk factors and obesity. Methods: Data were obtained from the survey “Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and Its Risk Factors in Some Regions of the Russian Federation” (ESSE-RF). This is a large cross-sectional multicenter population-based study that included interviews and medical examination (anthropometry, blood pressure [BP] measurement, and laboratory analysis) applied in 2012–2014. Results: The sample included 20,190 adults (response rate 79.4%) aged 25–64 years. Approximately one third of participants (30.3%) had obesity and another third (34.3%) were classified as overweight. BMI increased with age in both sexes. The prevalence of obesity between regions ranged from 24.4 to 35.5%. Overweight and obesity levels decreased with higher education (men only). Overall obesity rates were higher in rural than urban populations, but rates of overweight were similar in rural and urban populations. Participants with obesity were more likely to have BP > 160/100 mm Hg (odds ratio > 2.0) and also > 140/90 mm Hg, raised blood glucose, and high triglycerides. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Russian adults aged 25–64 years is not evenly distributed geographically, but it is comparable to that of other European countries. Individuals with obesity were also more likely to have indicators of poor cardiovascular and metabolic health.

In the light of these observations it seems reasonable to make a preliminary conclusion about lack of association between LVH and distinct polymorphisms of renin-angiotensin system genes in the population studied.

The use of different threshold values can significantly influence the assessment of prevalence of LVH in hypertension. The "mild" criteria, to our opinion, can overestimate the prevalence of structural LV remodelling, while implementation of sex-specific criteria for the definition of LVH increases the sensitivity of the method. In any way, eccentric LVH is as common for hypertension as a concentric LVH, the proportion of the latter increasing with age and more frequently observed in males. Concomitant obesity, in particular abdominal, significantly increases LVH prevalence.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the adherence of patients to treatment with new fixed in one blister combinations of enalapril and indapamide. 115 patients participated in the study. In conclusion, analysis revealed high efficacy of studied combinations, which can be partly explained by high compliance of patients.

eft ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is generally believed to be an independent risk factor in hypertension, 1-5 and the possibility and beneficial effect of reversing LVH during antihypertensive treatment have been well documented in clinical studies. [6][7][8][9][10] However, little is known about the evolution of left ventricular (LV) geometry in untreated subjects, because of the difficulties of long-term follow-up for humans and the ethical problems of organising a prospective study of untreated patients.There are 4 patterns of LV geometry in hypertension, classified according to the LV mass (LVM) index and relative wall thickness (RWT), 11 and it is now well established that the LV geometry pattern is closely related to LV function and the patient's prognosis. 12,13 Thus, concentric LVH is associated with a higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias, and even sudden death, 12 and the literature is replete with evidence that concentric LVH strongly predicts the development of heart failure. 13,14 In addition, the evidence is accumulating that eccentric LVH is frequently observed in the early stages of hypertension, 15-17 but little is known whether the geometry patterns are necessary consequent stages in the development of the hypertensive heart from normal geometry through LVH to LV dilatation and heart failure, or if every pattern is genetically and/or hemodynamically predisposed. Finally, the natural history of the transition from 1 pattern to another is still unknown, as are the changes in the geometry patterns during antihypertensive therapy.The present study investigated the changes in LVM, diastolic function, and geometry in hypertensive patients in a prospective 5-year follow-up in concordance with an evaluation of the regularity and effectiveness of treatment. Methods PatientsHypertensive patients older than 18 years from one of the city districts of St Petersburg who were in the patient database of the outpatient clinic, were screened for the study. Because no other option for outpatient care is available in this area, the vast majority of patients with essential hypertension are seen in the selected healthcare center. Patients were recruited for the study during their annual check-up from 1995 to 1998. The selection criteria were: (1) previously established diagnosis of essential hypertension (=1 year) based on the standard criteria (3 consecutive measurements of blood pressure (BP) in the right brachial artery while seated: >140 mmHg for systolic BP and/or >90 mmHg for diastolic BP); (2) Background Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), as well as the geometry pattern of the left ventricle, is believed to be an independent risk factor for hypertension. The present study investigated the changes in left ventricular mass, diastolic function and geometry in hypertensive patients in a prospective 5-year follow-up in conjunction with an evaluation of the regularity and effectiveness of treatment. Methods and ResultsOne hundred hypertensive patients older than 18 years were examined according to the study protocol...