Catestatin as a Biomarker of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Clinical Perspective.

Accounting for almost one-third of the global mortality, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a major global health issue. Emerging data suggest that most of the well-established mechanistic explanations regarding the cardiovascular pathophysiology are flawed, and cannot fully explain the progression and long-term effects of these diseases. On the other hand, dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has emerged as an important player in the pathophysiology of CVDs.

Psychogeriatric Diagnoses in Old People's Homes and Negative Health Behavior.

Background: The study was designed as a gerontologic-public health analysis of the relationship between the leading and accompanying psychogeriatric diagnoses and negative health behaviors recorded in the old people's home users, with the aim to evaluate and redefine gerontologic-public health priorities and geroprophylactic measures, with special reference to persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Subject And Methods: Gerontologic-public health indicators obtained by monitoring health care needs of the elderly in specific institutional primary health care at 10 old people's homes (N=1185) in Croatia in 2013 were analyzed using the professional methodology developed at Department of Health Gerontology, Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute of Public Health (Registry List 1 that refers to monitoring specific primary health care needs of elderly at old people's homes).

Results: Study results revealed that essential arterial hypertension was the principal (leading) principal diagnosis in the old people's home users as of 2013, accounting for 13% of all leading diagnoses recorded in the elderly in institutional health care.

The importance of individual' mental status for the true value of functional self-reported questionnaires used in medical rehabilitation.

The physical and mental health are inseparable and integral components of one's health and as such should always be addressed during the process of medical rehabilitation. It should be an obvious fact that the state of individual' mental health can influence and even more, modify, the outcomes of medical rehabilitation. Furthermore, the state of mental status has an effect in determining the reliability of functional self-reported questionnaires that are frequently used in medical rehabilitation.

[Mortality rates of circulatory system diseases and malignant neoplasms in Zagreb population younger than sixty-five--call for alarm].

Aims: The aim of this work was to analyze the public health indicators for circulatory heart diseases and malignant neoplasms in the population younger than 65 in the City of Zagreb, Croatia, and compare them with the European Union (EU) countries. The purpose was to evaluate the situation and propose the public health preventive measures.

Methods: The study population were Zagreb citizens aged 0-64 according to the 2001 census.

Functional independence, diagnostic groups, hospital stay, and modality of payment in three Croatian seaside inpatient rehabilitation centers.

Aim: To determine patients' functional independence, diagnostic groups, duration of hospital stay, and modality of payment of rehabilitation in major special hospitals for rheumatology and medical rehabilitation on the Croatian seaside.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted from October 2006 until January 2009, we surveyed 400 patients treated at 3 special hospitals for medical rehabilitation. Their functional independence was assessed by modified Barthel index and they self-evaluated their health using the first item from the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire.

Functional ability of the elderly in institutional and non-institutional care in Croatia.

Gerontology-public health indicators of functional ability of the elderly in institutional and non-institutional health care in Croatia were determined by use of expert methodology developed at Department of Gerontology, Dr. Andrija Stampar Institute of Public Health in Zagreb, with the aim to upgrade the Program of Health Care Measures and Procedures in Health Care of the Elderly. Comparison of functional ability between the users of selected Old People's Homes (institutional care; N = 5030) and Gerontology Centers (non-institutional care; N = 2112) yielded highest between-group difference in the proportion of "fully movable" and "fully independent" categories in favor of the latter, thus steering the program of health care for the elderly accordingly.

[Cardiovascular health, diet and salt in the elderly].

Introduction: The measures of primary prevention of cardiovascular disease are focused on lifestyle modifications in order to reduce the incidence of hypertension. Hypertension is a preventable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of mortality in the elderly in Croatia.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to present the share of circulatory system diseases in total hospitalization rate of the elderly.