Regional variations and trends in mortality from cardiovascular diseases in population aged 0-64 in Dalmatia and Slavonia, 1998-2009.

The aim of this paper was to analyse the regional variations and trends in mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the population aged 0-64 years in Dalmatia and Slavonia, over the period 1998 to 2009. Mortality data were derived from Central Bureau of Statistics. The results show that age-standardized mortality rates from total cardiovascular diseases, ischaemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases were lower in Dalmatia than rates for Slavonia, for both genders.

[Analysis of the results of mammography screening in Dubrovnik-Neretva County in the 2006-2009 period].

Aim: To analyze the results of the first cycle of mammography screening during implementation of the National Program for Early Breast Cancer Detection (National Program) for women aged 50-69 in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County (DNC) in the 2006-2009 period, and to present new cases of breast cancer among women undergoing screening.

Methods: Data were collected from the DNC Institute of Public Health database. Mammography results were classified according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS classification).

Undergraduate grade point average is a poor predictor of scientific productivity later in career.

The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the undergraduate grade point average in prediction of scientific production of research trainees during their fellowship and later in career. The study was performed in 1320 research trainees whose fellowships from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports were terminated between 1999 and 2005. The data were analyzed using logistic regression.

Evaluation of Croatian model of polycentric health planning and decision making.

Objective: To determine the progress in the development and implementation of health policies on a county level resulting from the learning-by-doing training provided through the County Public Health Capacity Building Program started in 2001 in Croatia.

Methods: Modular training using management tools, public health theory and practice, and SMDP's Healthy Plan-it tool, followed by the self-evaluation of the progress made by county teams in health needs assessment and health policy development, implementation, and assurance. Fifteen county teams consisting of politicians, executive officers, public health professionals, and community members.

[The risk and protective cardiovascular factors in Dubrovnik-Neretva county in comparison with Croatia].

Objective: To establish the prevalence of overweight, obesity, elevated systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and adding salt to meals as cardiovascular risk factors; the prevalence of fruit and leaf-vegetable consumption; and the prevalence of physical activity at leisure time as protective factors in Dubrovnik-Neretva County (County); and to compare these data with the respective figures in the Republic of Croatia (Croatia).

Methods: We used the 2003 Croatian Health Survey (CHS 2003) to provide data for our study. The CHS 2003 was a cross-sectional survey in a random sample of the general population aged > or =18.