Suchergebnisse

Greece has been severely damaged by the Second World War and the subsequent military occupation of the country by the Axis forces headed by Nazi Germany. The Greek society and economy were dislocated as a result of plundering of the country's vital resources, as well as enforced payments, instead paid to the occupying forces. The dramatic food shortages and famine appeared plaguing especially large cities. There is very limited information on the trends of mortality and morbidity (1941–1944) at a national level. The morbidity and mortality statistics of the General Statistical Service of Greece were assessed and the incidence morbidity and mortality rates have been calculated. As denominator population we used the population of Greece according to 1940 census. The morbidity due to exanthematic typhus, typhoid fever, dysentery and meningitis has been elevated over the period 1940–1944. An elevated specific mortality due to tuberculosis, malaria and typhoid fever was observed over the period 1940–1941. Regarding non-communicable diseases, the mortality due to hemorrhagic stroke was increased after 1940. In conclusion, we found that the Axis/Nazi military occupation of Greece had considerable health effects on infectious diseases and hemorrhagic stroke mortality. Deaths ostensibly due to infectious diseases (e.g. tuberculosis or malaria), were expedited by the hunger famine of the period under investigation. With regard to the elevated mortality due to hemorrhagic stroke, we believe that the stressful events of occupation and famine have triggered increased psychosocial stress which in turn may have increased the risk of hemorrhagic stroke mortality during the period of Axis/Nazi occupation of Greece.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking rates among the general population and among youth are decreasing in Greece. Low compliance with smoke-free legislation in indoor places in Greece renders non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke, especially when frequenting bars. The aim of the current study was to identify the factors related to support for smoking bans in bars in Greece. METHODS: A cross-sectional secondary data analysis was conducted on the 2013 Greek Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Multivariate regression was used to analyze individual factors and their relation to support for the smoking ban in bars. The total sample was nationally representative of the Greek population and included 3961 residents over the age of 15 with 2061 supporting a ban in bars. RESULTS: Overall, 50.5% (95% CI: 46.5-54.4) of Greeks supported the smoking ban in bars. Among them, 1,832 (74.9%, 95% CI=70.1-79.1) were non-smokers and 229 (13.7%, 95% CI=10.6-17.5) were smokers. Age over 65 years was significantly related to increased support for the smoking ban in bars compared to those aged 15-24 years (p<0.05). Belief that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer was significantly related (p<0.001) to having increased support for the ban. Increased knowledge of smoking-related harm was significantly related to increased support for the ban in bars (p<0.001). Male non-smokers were significantly less likely to support the ban in bars than females (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing knowledge and awareness of smoking-related harm will enhance smoking ban support and compliance, improving tobacco prevention and cessation, especially among the youth and young adults.

INTRODUCTION: Occupational exposure to Second Hand Smoke (SHS) continues to be an issue, even in countries with strong tobacco control legislation. The current study assessed the effect of chronic occupational exposure to SHS on cardiorespiratory exercise response among healthy adult non-smokers. METHODS: 60 healthy non-smokers; 38 men, 22 women, aged 18-58 years with body mass index (BMI)<30 were separated into exposed to occupational SHS (exposed, n=30) and those non-exposed (controls, n=30) to occupational SHS in the hospitality sector. All individuals underwent baseline spirometry and ergospirometry testing. Non-smoking status was confirmed with exhaled CO, SHS exposure with urine cotinine measurement and indoor environmental pollution with PM2.5 concentration. Statistical differences among groups were determined with an independent t-test and p-value set to <0.05. RESULTS: The exposed group had an average range of 6.9% to 14% lower exercise performance against their % predicted compared to controls. Significant mean differences ±standard deviation found between groups for ergospirometry were: oxygen uptake (VO(2), mL/minute) 11.8 ±3.9 (p=0.004) and 11.7 ±4.8 (p=0.019); carbon dioxide output (VCO(2)) 14.0 ±3.7 (p<0.001) and 13.4 ±5.0 (p=0.009); metabolic equivalents (METS) 11.9 ±3.9 (p=0.003) and 11.7 ±4.9 (p=0.018) and for oxygen pulse (VO(2)/HR) 16.6 ±7.551 (p=0.032) and 11.9 ±4.554 (p=0.011) at points of maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) and recovery (RC) against % predicted values, respectively. CONCLUSION: Chronic occupational SHS exposure among non-smokers deteriorates CR exercise performance. Its impact on chronic disease development should be further explored. These results add to the evidence of the importance of enforcing clean indoor air legislations.

This manuscript is part of the project Joint Action 761297/JATC, which has received funding from the European Union's Health Program (2014–2020). ; Yes

In line with Article 20 (9) of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) 2014/40/EU, a guidance document outlining a reporting system of suspected adverse effects from electronic cigarettes and their refill liquids was produced by Work Package 4 entitled 'Integration into national policies and sustainability' of the Joint Action on Tobacco Control (JATC). The JATC was a European project that lasted three years (2017–2020), with the general objective of providing support for the implementation of the TPD throughout the 27 European Union Member States (EU MS). The reporting system described in the guidance document includes a short reporting template for the reporting of adverse effects on human health from electronic cigarettes and refill liquids, both by Economic Operators (EO) and by National Competent Authorities (NCA). The present guidance document aims at providing the necessary steps and modalities that each MS should follow if involved in the development of a system for the reporting of suspected adverse effects on human health from electronic cigarettes and refill liquids.

Smoking and second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure have been recently linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in women. The aim of this work is to estimate the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from breast cancer attributable to these two risk factors in the European Union (EU-28) in 2017. The comparative risk assessment method was used. Data on prevalence of smoking and SHS exposure were extracted from the Eurobarometer surveys, relative risks from a recent meta-analysis, and data on mortality and DALYs from breast cancer were estimated from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries and Risk Factors Study. In 2017, 82 239 DALYs and 3354 deaths from breast cancer in the EU-28 could have been avoided by removing exposure to these two risk factors (smoking and SHS exposure). The proportion of DALYs from breast cancer lost respectively from smoking and SHS exposure was 2.6% and 1.0%, although geographically distributed with significant heterogeneity. These results represent the first estimates of breast cancer burden in women attributable to smoking and SHS exposure for the EU-28. It is important to increase awareness among women, health professionals and wider society of the association between smoking, SHS exposure and breast cancer, a relationship that is not widely recognised or discussed.

INTRODUCTION Under the European Union (EU) Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) (TPD), manufacturers and importers of tobacco products are required to report information to the European Commission (EC) and Member States (MS) on products intended to be placed on the market. We describe the distribution of notifications to the EU Common Entry Gate (EU-CEG) and identify key fields for improvement on reporting cigarettes or roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of secondary data reported in the EU-CEG was conducted for tobacco products notified within EU-CEG between June 2016 and October 2019 for 12 EU MS. Analysis of compliance to specific regulations for priority additives that refer to cigarettes and RYO was conducted for 10 EU countries. RESULTS Overall, 39170 tobacco products were notified. This included 16762 (42.8%) notifications of cigars, followed by cigarettes 11242 (28.7 %), waterpipes 3291 (8.4%), cigarillos (n=1783), pipe (n=1715), RYO (n=1635), chewing tobacco (n=1021), novel tobacco products (n=839), herbal products for smoking (n=535), other (n=258), nasal (n=74) and oral tobacco (n=15). In cigarettes and RYO tobacco products, the proportion of ingredients notified in all countries that contained an unknown Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) number was 3.8% and 2.1%, respectively. The proportion of underreporting flagging of priority additives ranged from 15.9% in Malta to 41.3% in Lithuania, the mean proportion of underreporting of the variable 'priority additive' for the 10 countries together was 24.7%. CONCLUSIONS In the EU-CEG data base, for the period of analysis, a significant number of product notifications took place while large variations in the number of types of tobacco products notified across EU countries was noted. The timely monitoring of these data is needed so that products non-compliant within the EU-CEG system are assessed.

INTRODUCTION: Under the European Union (EU) Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) (TPD), manufacturers and importers of tobacco products are required to report information to the European Commission (EC) and Member States (MS) on products intended to be placed on the market. We describe the distribution of notifications to the EU Common Entry Gate (EU-CEG) and identify key fields for improvement on reporting cigarettes or roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of secondary data reported in the EU-CEG was conducted for tobacco products notified within EU-CEG between June 2016 and October 2019 for 12 EU MS. Analysis of compliance to specific regulations for priority additives that refer to cigarettes and RYO was conducted for 10 EU countries. RESULTS: Overall, 39170 tobacco products were notified. This included 16762 (42.8%) notifications of cigars, followed by cigarettes 11242 (28.7 %), waterpipes 3291 (8.4%), cigarillos (n=1783), pipe (n=1715), RYO (n=1635), chewing tobacco (n=1021), novel tobacco products (n=839), herbal products for smoking (n=535), other (n=258), nasal (n=74) and oral tobacco (n=15). In cigarettes and RYO tobacco products, the proportion of ingredients notified in all countries that contained an unknown Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) number was 3.8% and 2.1%, respectively. The proportion of underreporting flagging of priority additives ranged from 15.9% in Malta to 41.3% in Lithuania, the mean proportion of underreporting of the variable 'priority additive' for the 10 countries together was 24.7%. CONCLUSIONS: In the EU-CEG data base, for the period of analysis, a significant number of product notifications took place while large variations in the number of types of tobacco products notified across EU countries was noted. The timely monitoring of these data is needed so that products non-compliant within the EU-CEG system are assessed.

Introduction: Under the European Union (EU) Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) (TPD), manufacturers and importers of tobacco products are required to report information to the European Commission (EC) and Member States (MS) on products intended to be placed on the market. We describe the distribution of notifications to the EU Common Entry Gate (EU-CEG) and identify key fields for improvement on reporting cigarettes or roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of secondary data reported in the EU-CEG was conducted for tobacco products notified within EU-CEG between June 2016 and October 2019 for 12 EU MS. Analysis of compliance to specific regulations for priority additives that refer to cigarettes and RYO was conducted for 10 EU countries. Results: Overall, 39170 tobacco products were notified. This included 16762 (42.8%) notifications of cigars, followed by cigarettes 11242 (28.7 %), waterpipes 3291 (8.4%), cigarillos (n=1783), pipe (n=1715), RYO (n=1635), chewing tobacco (n=1021), novel tobacco products (n=839), herbal products for smoking (n=535), other (n=258), nasal (n=74) and oral tobacco (n=15). In cigarettes and RYO tobacco products, the proportion of ingredients notified in all countries that contained an unknown Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) number was 3.8% and 2.1%, respectively. The proportion of underreporting flagging of priority additives ranged from 15.9% in Malta to 41.3% in Lithuania, the mean proportion of underreporting of the variable 'priority additive' for the 10 countries together was 24.7%. Conclusions: In the EU-CEG data base, for the period of analysis, a significant number of product notifications took place while large variations in the number of types of tobacco products notified across EU countries was noted. The timely monitoring of these data is needed so that products non-compliant within the EU-CEG system are assessed. ; This study is derived from the Joint Action on Tobacco Control funded by the European Union's Health Program (2014-2020) under the grant agreement - 761297. The Tobacco Control Research Group at ICO-IDIBELL (DCP, OT, EF) is partly supported by the Ministry of Universities and Research, Government of Catalonia (2017SGR319). DCP, OT and EF also thank CERCA Programme Generalitat de Catalunya for the institutional support to IDIBELL. ; Yes

BACKGROUND: The use of e-cigarettes has increased during the past few years. Exposure to e-cigarette liquids, whether intentional or accidental, may lead to adverse events our aim was to assess factors associated with e-cigarette exposures across European Union Member States (EU MS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of exposures associated with e-cigarettes reported to national poison centers was performed covering incidents from 2012 to March 2015 from 10 EU MS. De-identified and anonymous raw data was acquired. RESULTS: In total, 277 incidents were reported. Unintentional exposure was the most frequently cited type of exposure (71.3%), while e-cigarette refill vials were responsible for the majority of the reported incidents (87.3%). Two-thirds of all exposures (67.5%) occurred as ingestion of e-liquids, which was more frequent among children (≤ 5 years, 6-18 years) compared to adults (87.0% vs. 59.3% vs. 57.6%, p < 0.001 respectively), exposure via the respiratory (5.4% vs. 22.2% vs. 22.2%, p < 0.001) were more frequent among paediatric patients while ocular routes (2.2% vs. 3.7% vs. 11.4%, p = 0.021) were more frequent among adults. Logistic regression analyses indicated that paediatric incidents (≤ 5 years) were more likely to be through ingestion (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 4.36, 95% Confidence Interval [C.I.]: 1.87-10.18), but less likely to have a reported clinical effect (aOR = 0.41, 95% C.I.: 0.21-0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlighted parameters related to e-cigarette exposure incidents in 10 EU MS, the results of which indicate that consideration should be given to the design features which may mitigate risks, thereby protecting users, non-users and especially children.

Background: Population data on tobacco use and its determinants require continuous monitoring and careful inter-country comparison. We aimed to provide the most up-to-date estimates on tobacco smoking from a large cross-sectional survey, conducted in selected European countries. Methods: Within the TackSHS Project, a face-to-face survey on smoking was conducted in 2017–2018 in 12 countries: Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, representing around 80% of the 432 million European Union (EU) adult population. In each country, a representative sample of around 1,000 subjects aged 15 years and older was interviewed, for a total of 11,902 participants. Results: Overall, 25.9% of participants were current smokers (31.0% of men and 21.2% of women, P < 0.001), while 16.5% were former smokers. Smoking prevalence ranged from 18.9% in Italy to 37.0% in Bulgaria. It decreased with increasing age (compared to Conclusions: These smoking prevalence estimates represent the most up-to-date evidence in Europe. From them, it can be derived that there are more than 112 million current smokers in the EU-28. Lower socio-economic status is a major determinant of smoking habit in both sexes.

Background: Population data on tobacco use and its determinants require continuous monitoring and careful inter-country comparison. We aimed to provide the most up-to-date estimates on tobacco smoking from a large cross-sectional survey, conducted in selected European countries. Methods: Within the TackSHS Project, a face-to-face survey on smoking was conducted in 2017-2018 in 12 countries: Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, representing around 80% of the 432 million European Union (EU) adult population. In each country, a representative sample of around 1,000 subjects aged 15 years and older was interviewed, for a total of 11,902 participants. Results: Overall, 25.9% of participants were current smokers (31.0% of men and 21.2% of women, P < 0.001), while 16.5% were former smokers. Smoking prevalence ranged from 18.9% in Italy to 37.0% in Bulgaria. It decreased with increasing age (compared to <45, multivariable odds ratio [OR] for ≥65 year, 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27-0.36), level of education (OR for low vs high, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.17-1.48) and self-rated household economic level (OR for low vs high, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.74-2.42). The same patterns were found in both sexes. Conclusions: These smoking prevalence estimates represent the most up-to-date evidence in Europe. From them, it can be derived that there are more than 112 million current smokers in the EU-28. Lower socio-economic status is a major determinant of smoking habit in both sexes.