Normative Data for Blood Pressure in Croatian War Veterans: A Population-Based Study

Kasović, Mario; Kalčik, Zvonimir; Štefan, Lovro; Štefan, Andro; Knjaz, Damir; Braš, Marijana

doi:10.3390/ijerph18084175

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In this cross-sectional study, we recruited men and women aged 45–75 years, who participated in a homeland war between Croatia and Serbia from 1990 to 1995. More detailed information about the rehabilitation institution and specific programs done with war veterans are described elsewhere 32 . In brief, the Home for Croatian Veterans is a rehabilitation center established by the Ministry of Croatian Veterans specialized in improving quality of life and overall well-being.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The associations between health-related physical fitness and fasting blood glucose in war veterans: a population-based study

Kasović

Štefan

Kalčik³

2022

Sci Rep

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The main purpose of the study was to analyze the associations between health-related physical fitness and fasting blood glucose in war veterans. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 764 men and women aged 45–75 years, who were part of the Homeland War between 1990 and 1995 (33.5% women). Health-related physical fitness included: (1) fat mass and fat-free mass (body composition), (2) push-ups in 30 s (muscular dynamic endurance of upper extremities), (3) sit-ups in 30 s (repetitive upper body strength), (4) chair-stands in 30 s (lower body strength), (5) sit-and-reach test (flexibility) and (6) the 2-min step test (cardiorespiratory function). Laboratory measurement of fasting blood glucose was performed according to standardized procedures in resting seated position after a 12-h overnight fast. Generalized estimating equations with multiple regression models were used to calculate the associations between health-related physical fitness and fasting blood glucose. In men, fasting blood glucose was significantly correlated with fat-free mass (β = − 0.25, p < 0.001), push-ups in 30 s (β = − 0.55, p < 0.001), chair-stands in 30 s (β = − 0.50, p < 0.001), sit-ups in 30 s (r = − 0.45, p < 0.001), the sit-and reach test (r = − 0.46, p < 0.001) and the 2-min step test (r = − 0.19, p < 0.001), while fat mass was positively correlated with fasting blood glucose (β = 0.14, p = 0.004). In women, fasting blood glucose was significantly correlated with fat mass (β = 0.20, p = 0.002), fat-free mass (β = − 0.15, p = 0.014), push-ups in 30 s (β = − 0.49, p < 0.001), chair-stands in 30 s (β = − 0.43, p < 0.001), sit-ups in 30 s (β = − 0.52, p < 0.001), the sit-and reach test (β = − 0.40, p < 0.001) and the 2-min step test (β = − 0.35, p < 0.001). This study shows that fasting blood glucose may be predicted by health-related physical fitness test in war veterans.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The associations between health-related physical fitness and fasting blood glucose in war veterans: a population-based study

Kasović

Štefan

Kalčik³

2022

Sci Rep

Self Cite

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“…In this cross-sectional study, we recruited men and women aged 45–75 years, who participated in a homeland war between Croatia and Serbia from 1990 to 1995. More detailed information about the rehabilitation institution and specific programs done with war veterans are described elsewhere [ 21 ]. In brief, The Home for Croatian Veterans is an accommodation and rehabilitation institution established by the Ministry of Croatian Veterans with the intention of improving and strengthening the provision of comprehensive care for the veteran and suffering population.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Compared to the general population, war veterans are at increased risk for developing hypertension [ 21 ], having lower levels of physical functioning and quality of life [ 22 ]. It has also been reported that veterans describe challenges in maintaining their physical performance [ 23 ], being more prone to cigarette smoking [ 24 ] and gaining weight [ 25 ], which are all independent predictors of hypertension and physical fitness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This specific population often struggles to maintain healthy quality of life and longevity, because of stressful situations during combat, which often leads to posttraumatic stress disorder and other forms of physical and mental dysfunction. Although an effort has been made to help the veterans from Croatia through guided physical activity and psychological councelling [ 21 ], they are still an at-risk group for having cardiovascular complications and poor physical performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Importance of Cardiorespiratory vs. Muscular Fitness in Reducing the Odds of Hypertension in War Veterans: A Population-Based Study

Kasović

Štefan

Kalčik³

2021

IJERPH

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Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine separate and combined associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and musculoskeletal fitness (MF) with hypertension. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were 764 men and women aged 45–75 years, who were part of the Homeland War between 1990 to 1995 (33.5% women). CRF included the 2-min step test, while MF was consisted of push-ups in 30 s, chair-stands in 30 s and sit-ups in 30 s. The prevalence of hypertension was defined according to new American College of Cardiology and American Hearts Association Blood Pressure Guidelines for systolic and diastolic blood pressure of ≥130 mmHg and/or ≥80 mmHg. Results: In models adjusted for sex, age, fatness and fasting blood glucose, we found a graded inverse association between CRF and MF with hypertension. Less cardiorespiratory and muscular fit individuals were more likely to have hypertension. When CRF and MF were combined, individuals with high MF and low CRF, low MF and high CRF and low MF and CRF were 1.77, 2.15 and 7.09 more likely to have of hypertension. Conclusion: Both CRF and MF are associated with the prevalence of hypertension, while the magnitude of the associations between MF and hypertension was more pronounced.

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“…Вказують також на відмінності у стані здоров'я жінок і чоловіків [25,68], вікові відмінності [25,69]. Зокрема для пацієнтів з гіпертонією залежно від статі різниться зв'язок між воєнними стресовими факторами та ССЗ у пізньому віці, жінки більш чутливі до стресів, пов'язаних з війною [25].…”

Section: стресзумовлені гіпертензивні зміни за умов пандемії Covid-19unclassified

Stress and Hypertension in War and Covid-19 Conditions

Samokhina,

Rudyk

2023

Fiziol Zh

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Common mechanisms of the development of the body’s stress response under the conditions of war and the COVID-19 pandemic relate to its acute and chronic course, post-traumatic stress disorder, the role of the hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenal gland, the sympathetic nervous system, and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and deficiency of α-1- antitrypsin. The development of stress-induced hypertensive changes is characterized by the activity of enzymes independent of the angiotensin-converting enzyme pathway of the renin-angiotensin system, expression of miRNA, damage to the endothelial cells of blood vessels, changes in the content of neutrophils and lymphocytes, and the soluble receptor for glycosylation end products. The considered stress-induced hypertensive changes under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic relate to chronic hyperinflammation, emotional response, effects of catecholamines, chymase activity, redox imbalance, DNA damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress. The interaction between ACE/ACE2 and miRNA may increase the probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with hypertension. A factor in the severity of COVID-19 is considered to be clinical depression and low immunity, and the possibility of a negative effect of antidepressants is highlighted. A more aggressive course of COVID-19 in hypertensive patients is associated with low levels of nitric oxide (NO). Stress-induced hypertensive changes under the conditions of war are associated with adaptation disorders, increased randomness of heart rate changes, post-traumatic stress disorder, the development of hypertension partly of psychological origin against the background of changes in the central nervous system, immunity, and the polymorphism of the ACEI/D gene as an indicator of endurance.

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Normative Data for Blood Pressure in Croatian War Veterans: A Population-Based Study

Cited by 4 publications

References 17 publications

The associations between health-related physical fitness and fasting blood glucose in war veterans: a population-based study

The associations between health-related physical fitness and fasting blood glucose in war veterans: a population-based study

The Importance of Cardiorespiratory vs. Muscular Fitness in Reducing the Odds of Hypertension in War Veterans: A Population-Based Study

Stress and Hypertension in War and Covid-19 Conditions

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