Browsing by Author "Nikolić, Aleksandra (57217797364)"

Background/Aim. Insufficient levels of physical activity and poor nutrition, have led to an increase in the number of obese adolescents and cardiometabolic problems. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between eating habits and low physical activity levels among adolescents. Methods. The cross-sectional study, conducted in May 2017, included a total of 389 participants, aged 15–19 years. The study instrument was a questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics, physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), as well as eating habits. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results. A total of 131 participants (33.7%) had a low level of physical activity, and 258 (66.3%) had a moderate/high level of physical activity. Adolescents with moderate/high physical activity were significantly more likely to be male and medical school students. Moreover, they had breakfast significantly more often, consumed fish more than twice a week or at least twice a week, ate fruit once a day or more, and generally ate healthy, compared to the high school students with low physical activity. Among the factors associated with low physical activity were the following: the female gender, eating breakfast never/sometimes, consuming fish less than twice a week, fruit less than once a day, maintaining a healthy diet, and adolescents aged 18–19 years. Conclusion. This study identified several statistically significant independent factors associated with low physical activity in adolescents. Based on the obtained results, it is necessary to undertake certain interventions, promote physical activity, correct eating habits, and the overall lifestyle, with a special emphasis on the female population and teenagers aged 18–19 years. The education of both adolescents and their parents is essential. © 2024 Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved.

Background/Aim: Prehypertension and hypertension are an important public health problem worldwide and although they can be modified, they are often a risk for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension and associated risk factors in the adult population (15+ years) of Serbia. Methods: The cross-sectional study covered 14,623 adult respondents, but 14,422 volunteered to measure their blood pressure according to a pre-defined protocol. A stratified two-stage national representative random sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample. Results: In 2013, 17.7% of Serbian population, aged 15 and over, was normotensive, every third (33.1%) person had prehypertension, and every second (49.3%) had hypertension. The standardized prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 40.6% and 34.5%, respectively; 57.8% of the hypertensive population were receiving medical treatment. Among those receiving medical treatment, 35.2% (36.4% males and 33.2% females) had a blood pressure within the normal range. According to the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, independently significant risk factors for hypertension compared to persons with normotension were older age (50 and more) (p < 0.001), overweight (p < 0.001) and obesity (p < 0.001), moderate (p < 0.001) and large (p < 0.001) waist circumference in both sexes, and nonurban place of residence in females (p = 0.006). In females, independently significant risk factors for prehypertension compared to persons with normotension were older age (50 and more) (p < 0.001), overweight (p < 0.001) and obesity (p < 0.001), moderate (p < 0.001) and large (p < 0.001) waist circumference, but high level of physical activity was significantly protective (p = 0.014). In males, overweight (p < 0.001) and obesity (p < 0.001) were independently significant risk factors for prehypertension. Conclusion: Serbia belongs to countries with a high prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension. Our results emphasize the need for a new public health strategy for the prevention, detection and treatment of prehypertension and hypertension. © 2020 Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved.

[No abstract available]

Background: The unpredictable course of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is making good severity assessment tools crucial. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of serum amyloid A (SAA) and other acute-phase reactants (APRs) in ambulatory care COVID-19 patients and identified relationships between these markers and disease outcomes. Methods: From August to November 2020, patients seen in the outpatient department of the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases (Belgrade, Serbia) with confirmed COVID-19 were included. Patients were classified into mild, moderate, and severe disease groups based on World Health Organization criteria. SAA, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), ferritin, fibrinogen, D-dimer, albumin, and transferrin were measured. The median values of all APRs were compared between COVID-19 severity groups, hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, and survivors and non-survivors. The Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used for the classification characteristics assessment of individual APRs for the severity of illness, hospitalization, and survival. Results: Higher levels of SAA, CRP, IL-6, PCT, and lower levels of transferrin and albumin were observed in severe cases, hospitalized patients, and non-survivors. Based on ROC curve analysis AUC for SAA has fair classification per formance for disease severity (0.794) and death (0.732) and good performance for hospitalization (0.853). Conclusion: SAA is a valuable marker in everyday practice for assessing COVID-19 severity and prognosis in ambulatory patients. © 2023 Sciendo. All rights reserved.

Background: The unpredictable course of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is making good severity assessment tools crucial. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of serum amyloid A (SAA) and other acute-phase reactants (APRs) in ambulatory care COVID-19 patients and identified relationships between these markers and disease outcomes. Methods: From August to November 2020, patients seen in the outpatient department of the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases (Belgrade, Serbia) with confirmed COVID-19 were included. Patients were classified into mild, moderate, and severe disease groups based on World Health Organization criteria. SAA, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), ferritin, fibrinogen, D-dimer, albumin, and transferrin were measured. The median values of all APRs were compared between COVID-19 severity groups, hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, and survivors and non-survivors. The Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used for the classification characteristics assessment of individual APRs for the severity of illness, hospitalization, and survival. Results: Higher levels of SAA, CRP, IL-6, PCT, and lower levels of transferrin and albumin were observed in severe cases, hospitalized patients, and non-survivors. Based on ROC curve analysis AUC for SAA has fair classification per formance for disease severity (0.794) and death (0.732) and good performance for hospitalization (0.853). Conclusion: SAA is a valuable marker in everyday practice for assessing COVID-19 severity and prognosis in ambulatory patients. © 2023 Sciendo. All rights reserved.