Bratislava Medical Journal Vol.114, No.1, p.31-35, 2013

Background: Slovak inhabitants are considered at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the social and educational differences in relation to anthropometric CVD risk factors among central Slovakian adults.
Participants: The study population consisted of 100 probands from the central Slovakian region of Orava (50 males and 50 females). According to their social background they were classified as those with high (15 %), average (71 %) or low socioeconomic status (14 %). According to their education they were classified as those having completed only primary education (15 %) secondary education graduates (69 %) or university graduates (16 %).
Methods: Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, waist and hip circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfold were used to calculate body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and percentage body fat. Measured blood pressure (BP) was used to classify for hypertension.

Results: The probands with high socioeconomic status show the highest means of body fat percentage (24.53 ± 3.11 %) and blood pressure (with 53 % prevalence of hypertension and 60 % of stress); the population with low socioeconomic status had the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking (57.1 %), physical inactivity (64.3 %) and CVD family history (78.6 %).

The highest means of BMI (25.48 ± 3.26 kg/m2) were determined in participants with university education (they also show the highest stress rate at 46.7 %).

The population with primary education show the highest means of WHR (0.89 ± 0.13) and sBP (138.44 ± 19.64 mmHg), and the highest prevalence of hypertension (56.3 %), physical inactivity (62.5 %) and CVD family history (81.3 %).

Conclusion: The results of the study should lead to improving the prevention of CVD risk predictors, especially in adults with low socioeconomic status and primary education (Tab. 3, Ref. 29).