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Aim: Mortality and morbidity from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a major public health problem in Russia. The aim of the study was to examine trends and educational differences from 1992 to 2007 in NCD risk factors in Pitkäranta in the Republic of Karelia, Russia., Methods: Four cross-sectional population health surveys were carried out in the Pitkäranta region, Republic of Karelia, Russia, in 1992, 1997, 2002, and 2007. An independent random sample of 1000 persons from the general population aged 25-64 years was studied in each survey round. The total number of respondents in the four surveys was 2672. The surveys included a questionnaire, physical measurements, and blood sampling, and they were carried out following standard protocols., Results: The NCD risk factor trends generally increased in Pitkäranta during the study period with the exception of systolic blood pressure and smoking among men. Especially significant increases were observed in alcohol consumption among both sexes and in smoking among women. Educational differences and differences in trends were relatively small with the exception of a significant increase in smoking in the lowest female educational category., Conclusions: Trends showing an increase in some major NCD risk factors and signs of emerging socio-economic differences call for stronger attention to effective health promotion and preventive policies in Russia., (© 2014 the Nordic Societies of Public Health.)

Background: In Russia, non-communicable diseases are leading cause of death. The aim of this article is to describe changes in chronic disease risk factors (RFs) in Pitkäranta district in Russia during ten year period of time from 1992 to 2002., Methods: Study areas were Pitkäranta and Aunus districts in the Republic of Karelia, North-West Russia. The RF surveys were carried out in Pitkäranta every fifth year since 1992 and in Aunus in 2003. Independent random samples, age 25-64, were taken from the population registers. Blood pressure, weight and height were measured. Serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and GGT values were determined from serum samples. Smoking and alcohol consumption were asked. The total number of respondents was 2766., Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased in Pitkäranta from 1992 to 2002. Total serum cholesterol increased slightly. There was no significant change in BMI or in physical activity. Smoking did not change in males but increased among females. Self-reported alcohol use increased, as also mean GGT., Conclusions: The study gives valuable information on developments of RFs in Russia. Some alarming tendencies in lifestyle were seen and chronic disease RF situation has generally worsened. The results also show how big is the challenge to change lifestyles deep in culture--and in the situation where preventive work and policies do not receive strong support. A reliable monitoring of RFs and behaviours is obviously a back bone for drawing necessary attention and to steer intervention.

Background: In Russia rapid changes have taken place both in total and chronic disease mortality during recent years. Little reliable information is available on the trends in conventional risk factors in Russia., Methods: Chronic disease risk factors and health behaviours were studied in the Republic of Karelia, Russia in 1992 and 1997, in population surveys connected with the National FINRISK Study in Finland. Independent random population samples (n = 1000) of people aged between 25 and 64 years were drawn in both survey years. Surveys included a self-administered questionnaire, physical measurements and laboratory analyses., Results: The levels of systolic blood pressure, total serum cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased among both genders from 1992 to 1997, but the difference between the survey years was statistically significant only among women. Both self-reported alcohol consumption and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels increased significantly in both men and women. There was a significant shift in the type of fat used on bread and in cooking, from butter use to use of margarine and vegetable oil, among both genders., Conclusions: As a whole the risk factor levels in the Republic of Karelia are high. However, some slight improvement in risk profile was seen. Positive changes in dietary habits, such as change in the quality of fat and associated reduction in serum cholesterol levels may have contributed to the decline in cardiovascular disease mortality seen in Russia since 1995. However, since smoking and elevated blood pressure levels as well as alcohol consumption are still highly prevalent, there is a great need for effective interventions.

Background: Major differences in mortality, cardiovascular disease risk factors and health behaviour are known to exist between the populations of eastern Finland and the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Little is known, however, whether similar differences exist in subjective health., Methods: In spring 1992 a population survey was conducted in North Karelia, Finland and in the area of Pitkäranta, Republic of Karelia, Russia. Random population samples (n = 2,000 in North Karelia and n = 1,000 in Pitkäranta) stratified for age and sex were taken from the population registers. The subjects completed questionnaires and were examined at local health centres., Results: In North Karelia 50% of men reported their health as being quite good or very good, compared to 34% in Pitkäranta (p < 0.0001 for area difference). Among women the corresponding percentages were 58% in North Karelia and 22% in Pitkäranta (p < 0.0001). High household income and education were associated with good self-rated health among both sexes in North Karelia and among women but not men in Pitkäranta. Self-reported physical condition was better in North Karelia than in Pitkäranta (p < 0.0001). Psychosomatic symptoms (p = 0.0002 among men and p < 0.0001 among women) and many somatic symptoms were more prevalent in Pitkäranta than in North Karelia., Conclusion: In general, people in North Karelia, Finland feel healthier than people in the neighbouring Republic of Karelia, Russia. Socioeconomic differences in subjective health are less prominent in the Republic of Karelia.

Objectives: To determine the plasma ascorbic acid concentrations among men in North Karelia (Finland) and in Pitkäranta (Republic of Karelia) and to test how a short intervention would affect the plasma concentrations., Design: The baseline survey was done as a cross-sectional population survey. A subsample was selected to the intervention study and randomised to treatment and control groups., Setting: North Karelia province in Finland and the Pitkäranta area in the Republic of Karelia., Subjects: In the cross-section population survey the stratified random sample of men between 25 and 64 years of age was 1000 in North Karelia and 500 in Pitkäranta. Participation rates were 68% and 77%, respectively. Plasma ascorbic acid measurements were made in one-third of the sample. In Pitkäranta 60 men, having very low plasma ascorbic acid concentrations, were invited to the intervention study., Interventions: A controlled intervention study was made with blackcurrant-strawberry nectar in which vitamin C content was approximately 70 mg/100 g. The treatment group drank two times daily 200 ml nectar for 4-5 weeks. After intervention plasma ascorbic acid concentration was measured from both treatment and control groups., Results: Plasma ascorbic acid concentrations were very different in the two areas. In Pitkäranta 93% of the men and in North Karelia only 2% of the men had plasma levels suggesting severe vitamin C deficiency. After intervention 46% of the men in the experimental group compared with 5% in the control group had plasma ascorbic acid concentrations exceeding 23 mumol/l (4.0 mg/l)., Conclusions: In addition to a high smoking prevalence the very low ascorbic acid concentration among men in the Republic Karelia can have an effect on the high cardiovascular disease mortality.

Risk factors and health behaviors related to chronic diseases were studied in a population survey in Pitkäranta District in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, and in North Karelia, Finland, in Spring 1992 (Puska, Matilainen et al., 1993). The random sample of the population (25 to 64 years) was 1,000 in Pitkäranta and 2,000 in North Karelia. Among men there were more current smokers in Pitkäranta than in North Karelia (65% vs. 31%) whereas among women the respective rates were 11% and 16%. Self-reported alcohol consumption was higher in North Karelia. Leisure time physical activity was much less frequent in Pitkäranta both among men and women. Use of vegetables and berries was very infrequent in Pitkäranta. The differences in health behavior can at least partly explain the differences in risk factors and in mortality of chronic diseases.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors were measured in a population survey in Pitkäranta District in the Republic of Karelia and in North Karelia in Finland in spring 1992. According to official statistics the cardiovascular mortality in the Republic of Karelia is somewhat higher, and total mortality and cancer mortality considerably higher than in North Karelia. A random sample of the population, aged 25-64 years, was taken in Pitkäranta (n = 1000) and in North Karelia (n = 2000). The participation rates were 84% and 74% respectively. The mean total serum cholesterol among men was 5.2 mmol/l in Pitkäranta and 5.8 mmol/l in North Karelia (P < 0.001) and among women 5.3 mmol/l and 5.6 mmol/l (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels among men were 1.4 mmol/l and 1.3 mmol/l (P < 0.001), and among women 1.4 mmol/l and 1.5 mmol/l (P < 0.001), respectively. There were no significant differences in blood pressure among men, but women in Pitkäranta had higher blood pressure than women in North Karelia. The mean body mass index in Pitkäranta was higher among women, 28.0 versus 26.5 (P < 0.001) and lower among men, 25.2 versus 27.0 (P < 0.001) than in North Karelia. Smoking was much more common among men (65% versus 31%) but less common among women (10% versus 16%) in Pitkäranta than in North Karelia. The general level of the risk factors, and especially the higher prevalence of smoking among men could explain the high mortality rates in Pitkäranta, and in particular the high cancer mortality.