Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality in the world. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in relation to socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral and metabolic risk factors, and to analyse the association between presence of cardiovascular diseases and self-perceived health and attitudes towards factors affecting health in the population of Serbia over the age of fifteen. Material and Methods: The data of the 2019 National Health Survey of the Population of Serbia were analyzed, on a sample of 13,178 respondents over the age of fifteen, which was conducted in accordance with the methodology of the European Health Interview Survey (Wave 3). Data on socio-demographic characteristics, metabolic and behavioral risk factors and self-reported health and factors influencing health in relation to cardiovascular diseases were used for our analysis. Testing the difference in frequencies of categorical variables was performed using the X 2 test. Values of significance level p<0.05 are considered statistically significant. Results: By analyzing the data obtained from this research, it was estimated that every ninth resident of Serbia (11.2%) suffers from some form of cardiovascular diseases, with a statistically significant difference observed in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in relation to gender, age, income, education, self-assessment of health and attitudes towards health and risk factors, except for physical activity. Conclusion: The high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is strongly associated with preventable risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension, alcohol consumption, and smoking. This highlights the need for the development of preventive programs aimed at strengthening cardiovascular health education.

Introduction: Our objective was to identify clusters of lifestyle risk factors among Serbian adults and assess associations with socio-demographic characteristics and self-rated health. Methods: The sample included 7,885 adults aged 18 and over from the 2019 Serbian National Health Survey, who provided information on all four lifestyle risk factors (smoking, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake and risky drinking). The Two-Step Cluster Analysis was used to identify different health-related lifestyle clusters. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association of obtained clusters with socio-demographic characteristics and self-rated health. Results: Five distinct clusters of lifestyle risk factors were identified: Healthy lifestyle (cluster 1), Low fruit and vegetable intake (cluster 2), Physical inactivity (cluster 3), Smoking and other risk factors (cluster 4), Risky drinking and other risk factors (cluster 5). Multi-risk groups (cluster 4, cluster 5) exhibit specific socio-demographic characteristics (men, younger adults, living alone, less educated). Adults in unhealthy lifestyle clusters were more likely to report poor self-rated health than adults in the healthy lifestyle cluster. Conclusions: Individuals who were men, younger, living alone, less educated and those with poor self-reported health were more likely to engage in clusters of lifestyle risk factors and represent high-priority population groups for multiple health behaviour change interventions.

Background/Aim. Depression is a growing public health concern associated with disability, decreased quality of life, increased multimorbidity, and premature mortality. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms (DS) in the general population of Serbia and to analyze its association with sociodemographic factors. Methods. Data from the 2019 Serbian National Health Survey was analyzed (a sample of 12,406 respondents). The questionnaires used in this study were in accordance with the methodology of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) Wave 3. Patient Health Questionnaire eight-item depression (PHQ-8) scale was used to determine the prevalence of DS among the population aged ? 15 years. Multi-variate logistic regression analyses (MLRA) were implemented to assess the association of the prevalence of DS with the sociodemographic characteristics of the population. Results. The prevalence of both mild (7.5% vs. 4.4%) and moderate/severe DS (2.6% vs. 1.5%) was higher among women than men and increased continuously with age (13.6% of adults aged ? 65 years had mild and 5.0% moderate/severe symptoms). The highest rates of moderate/severe DS were present in respondents from Vojvodina (2.7%), among those who lived without a partner (2.7%), the lower educated (4.4%), the poor (3.4%), those with inactive employment status (3.7%), and those with poor social support (6.6%). MLRA showed that the highest odds of DS were present among the respondents aged ? 65 years [odds ratio (OR) = 6.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.37?6.69] in the Vojvodina region, particularly males (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.89?2.04), respondents who lived without a partner (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.47?1.51), the lower educated (OR = 2.27; 95% CI: 2.22?2.33), the poor (OR = 2.54; 95% CI: 2.49?2.58), as well as those with poor social support (OR = 3.71; 95% CI: 3.64?3.77). Conclusion. The prevalence of DS in the general population of Serbia was relatively low and requires further monitoring. Female gender, older age, living in the region of Vojvodina, life without a partner, socioeconomic disadvantages, as well as the lack of social support were identified as the main factors associated with the occurrence of DS.

Background/Aim. Population aging and the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases led to a rise in the number of people who live with more than one disease. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of multimorbidity in the working-age population (WAP) of Serbia. Methods. The study is part of ?The 2019 Serbian National Health Survey?, a c ross-sectional study conducted on a representative stratified two-stage sample. For this paper, a representative data sample for 9,473 persons of the WAP (aged 15?64 years) was used. Multimorbidity was defined as the co-occurrence of two or more of 13 chronic conditions. Data on chronic conditions were self-reported, and data on body mass and body height were measured. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess predictors of multimorbidity. Results. Multimorbidity prevalence among WAP was 12.0%, and it was significantly higher among women (13.3%) than in men (10.6%). The predictors of multimorbidity were: female gender, increasing age, lower level of education, lower income, unemployment, retirement, widowhood, and divorce. Being overweight and obese were associated with higher odds of multimorbidity in both men and women. Conclusion. Multimorbidity is an important public health problem amongst WAP in Serbia due to its high prevalence, especially among vulnerable groups, and its inequality in frequency among different socioeconomic groups.

Background: Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA) increases the risk of road traffic crashes that result in serious injuries or death. This work aimed to examine the prevalence of DUIA and the differences in relation to the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. Methods and Objectives: This research is part of the Special Public Health Program planned by the Provincial Secretariat for Health Care APV in 2023: Surveillance of behavioral risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in the adult population in APV. The research was performed as a cross-sectional study on a sample of 3,910 respondents aged 18 and older. A personal interview was conducted. The research instrument was a specially designed questionnaire based on a questionnaire from the BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC). Pearson chi-square test and Confidence Interval (95%CI) was used to compare differences between sociodemographic categories of respondents who drive under the influence of alcohol. Results: Out of a total of 1,488 respondents who consumed alcohol in the last 30 days, 225 (15.1%) reported to have been driving a car or other motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, significantly more often males (19.9%; 95%CI 17.4-22.6 vs. 6.4% females; 95%CI 4.5-8.9), divorced persons (24.1%; 95%CI 16.4-33.6) and employed respondents (17.4%; 95%CI 15.2-19.8). The highest percentage of drink-drivers was in the Northbacka district (22.6%; 95%CI 15.3-31.3). There were no significant differences in DUIA regarding other sociodemographic characteristics. On average, the respondents drove under the influence of alcohol 3.3 times in the last months, with no significant differences in the observed characteristics. Conclusions: The number of drivers under the influence of alcohol is significant in Vojvodina. The results indicate the necessity of holistic public health action aimed at road safety. This requires involvement from multiple sectors, such as traffic law enforcement, transport, police, health, and education.

Background: The prevalence of internet use is constantly increasing, necessitating a continuous assessment of its problematic use and factors influencing it. This disorder is particularly relevant in adolescents and young adults who use the internet more than other age groups. The objective of our study was to determine the factors influencing the duration of social media use and online gaming. Objectives and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of first-grade high school students in Novi Sad. The analysis included 876 respondents, of whom 477 were females (54%). The research instrument used was the European School Project on Alcohol and other Drugs questionnaire from 2019, which was completed online. Results: On weekdays, students mostly spent 2-3 hours on social media (31.4%), while on weekends, they spent six or more hours (29.1%), in both cases significantly more girls (p<0.001). Students who played games during the week mostly did so for half an hour or less, and on weekends for 2 to 3 hours, significantly more boys (p<0.001). Young people who consumed alcohol in the last 30 days significantly more often used social media longer during the day (p<0.001), as did those who skipped classes more frequently (p=0.003). Current smokers are also significantly more likely to use social media for six or more hours on weekdays and weekends (p<0.001 and p=0.005). Respondents who played video games "almost every day" gambled significantly more often in the last 12 months (p=0.016) compared to those who did not play video games "almost every day". Parents of respondents who played video games "almost every day" are more often highly educated. Conclusions: Research increasingly recognizes the need for implementing preventive programs to prevent excessive internet use among young people in our environment. Recognizing different patterns of internet use and factors influencing them can improve the adaptation of prevention programs to various target groups.