Central European journal of public health最新文献

{"title":"Vaccination coverage against COVID-19 among people living with HIV infection in the Czech Republic.","authors":"Lukáš Fleischhans, Barbora Králíčková, Marek Malý, Ladislav Machala, David Jilich","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8674","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8674","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected hundreds of millions of individuals globally. Vaccination has become a promptly effective preventive procedure. People living with HIV (PLHIV) are in increased risk of many infections including COVID-19. We aimed to analyse the first phase of vaccination (January 2021-June 2022) in the Czech Republic in PLHIV focusing on vaccination coverage, vaccine hesitancy and breakthrough infections.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this single-centre, open-label, prospective study we have enrolled 1,758 PLHIV with median age of 42.5 years and median CD4+ T cells count (cluster of differentiation) 800/µL.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Vaccination coverage was 84.7% and first booster dose was received by 71.7% of those who completed vaccination. Only 78 individuals (4.4%) have actively rejected vaccination. The most frequent vaccination scheme (60.3%) was Comirnaty vaccine plus booster of the same vaccine. There was a significant difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in age, CD4+ count, CD4/CD8 ratio, virological suppression on antiretroviral therapy (ART) duration of HIV and level of education (p < 0.001). Prevalence of breakthrough infection was seen in 21.4%. There was no significant difference among individual vaccines (p = 0.715). Individuals with breakthrough infections were statistically younger (p = 0.001) with some risk factors in 25.1%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this prospective study we have seen higher vaccination coverage against COVID-19 in PLHIV in the Czech Republic in comparison with the general Czech population. Hesitancy, resulting in rejection of vaccination, was lower in our cohort as regards affinity to the HIV clinic, and breakthrough infections were noticed and occurred particularly in younger age groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"16-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation between waist-to-height ratio and other anthropometric indices in the Bosnian elderly.","authors":"Asija Začiragić, Amela Dervišević, Orhan Lepara, Amila Huremović, Amina Valjevac","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8533","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8533","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of the present study was to explore whether gender differences exist in waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) values and to assess the correlation between WtHR and other obesity indicators after categorising older adults of Bosnian descent based on the presence or absence of abdominal obesity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 151 inhabitants of the Geriatric Centre in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, aged 65 years and older (66 males and 85 females). Anthropometric indices and blood pressure values were measured by standard methods. WtHR was calculated using the following formula: waist circumference (WC) (cm)/height (cm). Differences between compared groups were analysed using the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test or chi-square test. Correlations were assessed by Spearman's or Pearson's test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Females had significantly higher WtHR values compared to males. Significant positive correlation was determined between WtHR and body mass index (BMI), WC, hip circumference (HC), neck circumference (NC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), calf circumference (CC), and the weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) in both male and female elderly individuals. In elderly participants with abdominal obesity, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between WtHR and all of the tested anthropometric indices. Amongst elderly participants without abdominal obesity, a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between WtHR and BMI, WC, MUAC, and the WWI. However, no statistically significant correlations were observed between WtHR and HC, NC or CC in elderly participants without abdominal obesity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results of this study imply that WtHR is a valid parameter for assessing abdominal obesity in elderly individuals. The observed WtHR values indicate that women are at greater health risk than men. Given the high prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in older adults and the demonstrated limitations of BMI, we propose that WtHR should be incorporated into routine clinical practice for obesity assessment in this age group.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"47-52"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unusual occurrence of temporo-spatial cluster of human prion disease in northern part of central Slovakia.","authors":"Pavol Skáčik, Štefan Sivák, Egon Kurča","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8670","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8670","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Clusters of human prion diseases have been reported in several endemic regions, notably in Slovakia, Italy, Chile, and Israel, predominantly linked to genetic forms (E200K mutation). Isolated temporo-spatial clusters that include sporadic forms are rarely documented and remain poorly understood. This report describes a unique cluster of prionopathies observed in northern central Slovakia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between July 2021 and March 2022, three definitive cases of prion disease were identified in two neighbouring rural villages, Pribovce and Rakovo, in the Martin District of Slovakia. The villages, located within a radius of approximately three kilometres, have a combined population of 1,468. Clinical records, epidemiological data, and neuropathological findings were reviewed in all cases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cluster included one genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (gCJD) with the PRNP E200K mutation and M/M genotype at codon 129; one sporadic CJD (sCJD); and one sporadic fatal familial insomnia (sFFI), the first such case reported in Slovakia. The cases occurred sequentially within a ten-month interval. No familial, environmental, or iatrogenic links were identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The coexistence of distinct prionopathies in such a confined population and period is exceptional. Despite comprehensive investigation, no explanatory factor was found, and this cluster likely represents a chance occurrence of epidemiological interest. The finding underscores the importance of systematic neuropathological confirmation, molecular testing, and regional surveillance in prion disease monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"67-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human health risk assessment of trihalomethanes in outdoor swimming pool waters in Montenegro.","authors":"Dijana Đurović, Nevena Cupara, Irena Nikolić, Milena Tadić, Jelka Vuković","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8555","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8555","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This paper deals with the characterization of outdoor swimming pool waters to study the occurrence of trihalomethanes (THMs) and to assess the health risk of THMs exposure for three population groups (male, female, and children). The concentration of total THMs and individual species (chloroform, bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and bromoform) were monitored during the seven months of 2022 in outdoor swimming pools in the coastal area of Montenegro.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 73 water samples from outdoor swimming pools were collected and tested for the content of THMs using an Agilent 7890 A GC. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of total THMs and each species were assessed through lifetime cancer risk (CR) and hazard index (HI), respectively. Health risk assessment was assessed through the oral and dermal exposure pathways.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The concentration of total THMs in investigated water samples ranged between 0.19 and 237.18 μg/L when 26% of tested water samples had values above the maximal permitted value (100 μg/L) established by Montenegrin legislation. Chloroform concentration was in a range of 1.13-217.16 μg/L, while contents of BDCM and DBCM were in a range of 1.01-29.43 μg/L and 0.18-16.19 μg/L, respectively. Calculated values of dermal CR were higher than 10^-⁶, thus CR values of total THMs exposure were higher than 10^-⁶ for all population groups. On the other hand, CR via ingestion values were meagre, HI values of total THMs exposure for three population groups were calculated to be below 1.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is no non-carcinogenic risk for the children population while male and female populations were faced with non-carcinogenic health risk of total THMs exposure. On the other hand, all investigated population groups were faced with unacceptable cancer health risks and dermal contact was recognized as the main exposure route for all investigated populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"33-39"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Atherosclerosis and dementia development: an epidemiological case-control study.","authors":"Veronika Koutná, Ladislav Štěpánek, Martina Kovalová, Ondřej Machaczka, Petr Ambroz, Anna Zatloukalová, Eva Mrázková, Michal Bar, Martin Roubec, Petra Bártová, Richard Novobilský, Martin Sabela, Pavlína Kušnierová, David Stejskal, Lucie Faldynová, Sylwia Walczysková, Lukáš Školoudík, Libor Šimůnek, Petra Šolínová, David Školoudík, Jana Janoutová, Vladimír Janout","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8574","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8574","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>With increasing life expectancy, the prevalence of atherosclerosis and dementia is expected to rise in the future and as such represents a public health threat. This study focused on analysis of atherosclerosis risk factors and the protective factors of leisure-time activities in the development of dementia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The sample comprised 1,298 participants that were selected from university hospitals and outpatient clinics between 2019-2023. All participants completed a questionnaire and medical data were obtained. We used logistic regression to identify dementia risk factors and we also compared the leisure-time protective factors between four groups based on the presence of atherosclerosis and/or dementia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Hypercholesterolemia (aOR = 3.25, p > 0.001), stroke (aOR = 1.43, p = 0.015), and carotid stenosis (aOR = 2.23, p > 0.001) were significantly associated with risk of dementia whereas age (aOR = 0.93, p < 0.001) and female gender (aOR = 0.70, p = 0.012) were negatively associated. The model of these factors demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability of AUC 0.737 (95% CI: 0.702-0.769). Higher education levels and regular cognitive and physical activities such as reading and exercise had positive effects against dementia.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings accentuate the importance of cardiovascular health in reducing risk of dementia. Preventive strategies targeting hypercholesterolemia, carotid stenosis and inactivity, along with promotion of cognitive engagement and education, could substantially reduce the global burden of dementia.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"53-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early diagnosis and risk groups: comorbidities in newly diagnosed adults with HIV in Turkey.","authors":"Şemsi Nur Karabela, Fatma Bayrak Erdem, Esra Canbolat Ünlü, Beyza Kaplan Yapar, Sevtap Şenoğlu, Habip Gedik, Kadriye Kart Yaşar","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8538","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8538","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the early diagnosis of HIV in Turkey, with a particular focus on high-risk populations, comorbid conditions, and temporal trends. It also evaluated whether initial clinical findings could inform the expansion of screening strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,703 individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who attended our clinic between 2004 and 2023. Patients were grouped into five-year intervals and assessed based on demographic characteristics, reasons for testing, and reported comorbidities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the participants, 90.3% were males, with a mean age of 36.6 years. Of those who disclosed their sexual orientation, 46.8% identified as heterosexual. Common comorbidities included anal region disorders, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, diabetes, and syphilis. HBsAg positivity was 5%, and anti-HCV positivity was 0.86%. Nearly half of the patients (48.6%) were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Physician-initiated testing and routine screenings played a significant role in early detection.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Early diagnosis of HIV is essential for reducing transmission and improving patient outcomes. Screening programmes should be expanded to include not only high-risk groups but also sexually active individuals presenting with relevant clinical symptoms. Public health efforts must address stigma and improve access to HIV testing to optimize early detection and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"22-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing attitudes toward vaccination in general and against COVID-19 among family medicine patients with and without chronic disease in Croatia.","authors":"Vedrana Tudor Špalj, Branislava Popović, Nives Radošević Quadranti, Gordana Mičetić Balog, Zoran Adžić","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8477","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8477","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of the study was to analyse the attitudes and decisions regarding vaccination in general and against COVID-19 among general practitioner (GP) patients in Croatia, and to identify influencing factors, with particular attention to chronic conditions and anxiety.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 184 patients (stratified by sex and presence of chronic disease) from a GP's offices, aged 18-87 years (average 50.3 ± 1.3 years, 49.5% women) were included. Data were collected using a questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Attitudes toward vaccination in general did not differ between patients with and without chronic diseases and were not influenced by anxiety. Chronically ill patients were more likely than those without chronic disease to believe in the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and to express fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2 (p ≤ 0.003). Anxiety was associated with fear of infection (p < 0.001), but not with confidence in vaccine safety or efficacy. After controlling for sex, age, education, chronic illness, anxiety, and knowing someone infected and hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2, factors associated with the decision to be vaccinated against COVID-19 were absence of prior infection (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.6-9.5, p = 0.003), history of influenza vaccination (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 1.4-10.4, p = 0.009), and knowing someone who had died from COVID-19 (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.1-9.7, p = 0.037).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The decision to vaccinate against COVID-19 was associated with absence of prior infection, knowing someone who died from the disease, and prior influenza vaccination, but not with chronic illness, anxiety, or socio-demographic factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"9-15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends in Amanita phalloides intoxications in the Czech Republic: how many antidotes are needed?","authors":"Daniela Pelclová, Tomáš Navrátil, Eva Kieslichová, Jaroslav Klán, Peter Ondra, Šárka Daňková, Tomáš Májek, Ľubica Bihary","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8787","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8787","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>In Central Europe, mushroom poisoning is a public health problem as the Czech Republic belongs to the countries with the highest proportion of mushroom pickers. The trends in A. phalloides intoxications, their treatment and outcome were investigated in verified cases, as several antidotes are recommended and their effect is still under discussion.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Mushroom intoxications in 2010-2024 were searched in the database of the Czech Toxicological Information Centre (TIC) and the Institute of Health Information and Statistics. Intoxications with amatoxins in 2019-2024 were analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mushroom-related consultations of TIC reached an average of 490 calls/year (SD = 130), and 190 subjects/year (SD = 36) were hospitalized. A total of 1,248 mycological identifications and laboratory analyses were performed in 2019-2024; in 45 proven intoxications with amatoxins, lethality was 4.4%. The amount of ingested mushrooms (0.3-8 pieces) was negatively correlated (r = -0.358, p = 0.041) with the latency to symptoms (10.4 ± 1.3 hours), and positively with the duration of hospital stay (7.8 ± 2.3 days, r = 0.356, p = 0.042), peak international normalized ratio (r = 0.445, p = 0.010), and use of elimination methods (r = 0.451, p = 0.008). Later admission correlated with alanine aminotransferase activity (r = 0.318, p = 0.033) and creatinine level (r = 0.447, p = 0.002). Patients with simultaneous amatoxin positivity of blood and urine had a longer hospital stay than those with only one positive sample (14.0 ± 6.6 vs. 7.4 ± 2.1 days, p = 0.018). Of 45 patients, 32 patients were treated with 2 or 3 antidotes; two patients died; an additional critical factor for lethal intoxications was preceding liver or psychic disorders. Eight patients received one antidote and recovered; there was no difference between N-acetylcysteine and silibinin (p > 0.05). Five patients with early admission were treated without antidotes and did not develop hepatotoxicity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Deaths from unintentional poisoning with amatoxins can be averted. Amount of mushrooms ingested, early treatment with N-acetylcysteine or silibinin, and evidence of amatoxins in blood and urine are key factors. Timely mycological consultations and information for safe mushroom collection, including for immigrants, are crucial.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"40-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incidence and risk factors of COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers at a tertiary referral centre: from the first to the sixth wave of the pandemic.","authors":"Ignacio Ruiz-Salcedo, Álvaro Serrano-Ortiz, Rafael Ruiz-Montero, Juan José López-Moyano, Mohamed Farouk Allam, Estefania López-Cabrera, Inmaculada Salcedo-Leal","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8447","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8447","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) at Reina Sofia University Hospital (RSUH) in Cordoba, Spain, from the first to the sixth wave of the pandemic. Additionally, we analysed the characteristics of infections across different age groups, genders, professional categories, hospital services, and COVID-19 vaccination status.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An observational, longitudinal, analytical, and retrospective study was conducted, considering characteristics of person, time, HCWs category, and diagnostic test. The results of the tests of RSUH HCWs between March 2020 and March 2022 were analysed. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from the Alert Network of the Epidemiological Surveillance System of Andalusia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included 6,794 HCWs, of whom 1,513 (22.3%) tested positive for COVID-19. The distribution of COVID-19 cases among HCWs across the six waves was as follows: first wave - 150 cases (9.9%), second wave - 597 cases (39.4%), third wave - 225 cases (14.9%), fourth wave - 24 cases (1.6%), fifth wave - 121 cases (8%), and sixth wave - 396 cases (26.2%). The mean age of confirmed cases was 46.32 years (SD = 11.53), with a lower infection risk among HCWs aged 61-70 years. Only 16.9% of cases had received two vaccine doses at the time of infection. Nursing was the most affected professional category (30%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>COVID-19 infection risk varies by age and HCWs category, decreasing in older HCWs but increasing among residents and certain specialties. During the Omicron variant's dominance, vaccines seemed less effective in reducing transmission. Health education programmes for both patients and HCWs are necessary to limit the spread of the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"3-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Degree of fatigue in individual parts of the body of professional tree climbers after the performance of their work - a survey.","authors":"Luboš Staněk","doi":"10.21101/cejph.a8381","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a8381","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Work of an arborist - tree climbing - is a dangerous activity associated with great physical effort, influenced by incorrect body posture and significantly stressed individual parts of the body. This research was initiated with the objective to draw attention to this hitherto little explored issue connected with ergonomics of the work of tree climbers. The goal of the research was to gather information about the fatigue of individual parts of the human body in professional tree climbers who access trees using so-called rope techniques (ascent to the tree crown, movement in the tree crown, descent from the tree crown) by means of a questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The assessment included 12 body parts (8 in the upper body, 4 in the lower body), with each part being divided into right and left parts. The research was conducted in the Czech Republic, 98 respondents were professional tree climbers. The questionnaire contained two sections of questions. Questions from the questionnaire were analysed, evaluated and plotted into clear graphs which were then statistically quantitatively described. Furthermore, the linear relationship between the duration of work performance and the occurrence of fatigue in individual parts of the body was assessed (Pearson's correlation coefficients).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicated that the most stressed part of the body of tree climbers who access trees using rope techniques is the area of wrist and hands. On the other hand, the least stressed part of their body is lower leg. Furthermore, the results of Pearson's correlation analysis show that the relationship between the number of hours and the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems is weak, unstable, and nonlinear in most body segments.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The research has shown that arborists who care for trees using rope techniques are exposed to varying degrees of fatigue in different parts of the body.</p>","PeriodicalId":9823,"journal":{"name":"Central European journal of public health","volume":"34 1","pages":"59-66"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147670941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}