Introduction: Hypertension, particularly untreated, leads to serious complications and contributes to high costs incurred by the whole society. The aim of the review was to carry out a social and economic comparison of various categories of hypertension costs from different countries. Material and methods: The study was a systematic review. PubMed, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases were searched. Hypertension costs were analyzed in 8 cost categories. An attempt was made to determine whether selected economic and social factors (such as HDI or GDP) influenced hypertension costs. Results: The review included data from 15 countries: Brazil,

IntroductionApart from its medical dimension, the current problem with obesity has acquired social urgency. This serious lifestyle disease has a negative impact on a number of life processes in the body, causing distortions and damaging different structures. It also contributes to clinical complications, lowers the quality of life and reduces life expectancy. Apart from health-related consequences, it can bring such unfavourable results as social, mental and emotional disorders.Material and methodsA systematic review of relevant epidemiological studies on obesity in Poland relative to selected countries in Europe and the world over the past 15 years was conducted. Also an attempt was made at forecasting the development of the obesity problem.ResultsThe analysed results demonstrated that the percentage of obese people among the adult population of Poland was on the rise in the period under investigation. Taking into account the estimated growth rate, we can assume that the percentage of obese people in Poland right now might total 23.7% for men and 23.3% for women. If no changes are introduced in this respect, in 2020 we can expect a rise to, respectively, 30.3% and 27.3%, and in 2030 to 37% for men and 31.4% for women.ConclusionsThe increase in the percentage of obese people among the adult population in Poland is most likely connected with a positive energy balance. In comparison to other European countries Poland has the highest percentage of obese men and women.

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to assess the costs associated with mild hypertension (HTN) in Poland and to compare the costs of 3-year ambulatory care for those diagnosed with mild HTN (group A) and those diagnosed with mild HTN and comorbidities (group B).Material and methodsThe researchers undertook a retrospective study of a group of 120 patients treated for 3 years (2006-2008) (60%, n = 72 women and 40%, n = 48 men), taking into account the broadest possible social perspective. Medical and non-medical direct costs as well as indirect costs were calculated.ResultsThe total costs of the 3-year pharmacotherapy in group A equalled 49,985.65 EUR, or 833.09 EUR per patient, whereas in group B the costs were twice as high: 105,691.55 EUR in total or 1,761.53 EUR per patient. Indirect costs for group A patients totalled 3,468.80 EUR (578.13 EUR per patient) and 4,579.20 EUR for group B patients (572.40 EUR per patient). Total direct costs (medical and non-medical) and indirect costs for group B patients were much higher, amounting to 130,228.14 EUR and 2,666.55 EUR per patient, which was double the costs in group A, where costs were 74,184.96 EUR and 1,756.73 EUR per patient.ConclusionsThe costs of HTN treatment in Poland are very high and are growing, like in other countries. Potential solutions include developing better patientdoctor communication to improve compliance, and increasing the chances of more effective and less expensive therapy by prescribing cheaper generic drugs, limiting polypharmacy and improving availability of novel therapeutic methods.

IntroductionPrimary and secondary prevention of hypertension is difficult and if the condition is not treated it may cause a number of dangerous complications. The objective of this study was to collect and systematize data on the health-related behaviours of Poles aiming at the prevention of hypertension in order to determine potential areas where primary health care could be improved.Material and methodsA group of 1018 participated in the study (60% women and 40% men). The study was conducted in Poland in 2009 by means of an anonymous research questionnaire developed for survey use. The study involved people aged 30-50 years, who had not been diagnosed with hypertension, and who were under the care of a primary care physician.ResultsOver 35% of respondents in the potential risk group do not measure blood pressure at all, and just over 10% perform cholesterol and blood glucose level tests more often than once a year. Individuals who pay most attention to prevention in the form of physical activity are women, more often young (67% of people under 35), unmarried (52%), mostly with secondary or higher education. Moreover, one third of the women surveyed (32.4%) and almost half of men (48.4%) stated that they smoke cigarettes, and in most men (66.3%) the amount of alcohol taken in one serving exceeded the pressor threshold (> 20 g).ConclusionsDesirable health-promoting actions such as stress reduction are effective but actions such as consuming alcohol and eating fats are unsatisfactory and require intensive public education.

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Summary Introduction: The use of dietary supplements has been observed for many years. Unfortunately, the status of food supplements and main differences between these and drugs remain unknown to most consumers. Objective: The purpose of the study was to analyze the opinions of future healthcare professionals on dietary supplements, their behavior concerning food supplementation, as well as their knowledge on the safety of these products. Methods: The survey was conducted among 354 future healthcare professionals, using a questionnaire composed of 21 items exploring demographic characteristics, knowledge of supplements, reasons for the use of dietary supplement, and recall of the use. Results: All respondents knew that the purpose of using these products is supplementation. A vast majority of respondents (83.9%) thought that a diet with no supplementation is possible or probably possible. 49.4% of respondents (n=175) declared taking food supplements. The most commonly used ones (68.6%) were products recommended during illness and used to improve the condition of skin, hair, and nails. Moreover, dietary supplements mentioned by students included those containing herbal ingredients, such as: Equisetum arvense, Allium sativum, Panax ginseng, and Ginkgo biloba. Most of respondents buy dietary supplements at pharmacies (89.14%). Conclusions: Use of dietary supplements is widespread among students. Future healthcare professionals have a better knowledge on food supplementation than population of Poland in general, however, they still need good education in this matter.

Fluorosis is caused by excessive exposure to fl uoride. The primary source of excess fl uoride ingestion is drinking-water with high fl uoride concentrations. According to the World Health Organization, fl uoride concentrations in drinking-water should not exceed 1.5 mg/l (1.5 ppm). Secondary sources of fl uoride exposure include fl uoride-rich beverages, foodstuffs and dental products. Excess fl uoride intake manifests itself primarily in disrupted tooth enamel formation (dental fl uorosis) and bone damage (skeletal fl uorosis). The two classifi cation systems widely used for grading the severity of dental fl uorosis are the Dean's Index and the Thylstrup-Fejerskov Index. To estimate the scale of dental fl uorosis as a global public health problem, a literature search was conducted in the PubMed database with 'fl uorosis' as a search term, as well as in publications available in print. The search yielded a number of studies describing the problem of dental fl uorosis in countries such as Mexico (100% prevalence), Sri Lanka (72.9%), India (64.3%), the USA (61.3%) and Brazil (from 39.6 to 58.9%). High fl uoride drinking-water concentrations infl uenced the prevalence of dental fl uorosis. With the mean concentration of 1.58 ppm, as many as 72.9% of the study population had dental fl uorosis (Sri Lanka). Higher fl uoride concentrations were correlated with a higher prevalence of more severe manifestations of the disease: the proportion of population affected with stage 6 or 7 (severe) fl uorosis was 4.4% at 2.5 ppm and 20.6% at 5.1 ppm (Mexico). In the regions of the world with high fl uoride drinking-water concentrations, steps should be taken to prevent dental fl uorosis.