At a remote press conference on Tuesday, doctors recalled what free prevention programs every resident can take advantage of.
National Cancer Institute coordinator of prevention programs doctor radiologist dr. Rūta Briedienė stressed that the long-known rule that early diagnosis is the beginning of successful treatment. And the incidence of cancer is, unfortunately, rising all over the world – environmental factors are at work and people’s lives are getting longer. The longer you live, the more likely you are to develop cancer.
Studies show that a 4-month delay in surgical treatment for cancer increases mortality by 6-8 percent, and a delay in radiotherapy or systemic treatment by 10 percent.
We have 4 free cancer prevention programs in Lithuania when we do not yet feel any symptoms:
Cervical Cancer – women are screened every 3 years from 25 to 59 years.
Breast cancer program – a mammogram is performed for women aged 50 to 69 years.
Colon Cancer Program – Men and women aged 50 to 74 are screened.
Prostate Cancer Program – Men between the ages of 50 and 69 are screened, and if there is a family history of prostate cancer, they are screened from the age of 45.
“Unfortunately, people in Lithuania are not yet used to preventive examinations. A healthy lifestyle comes into our lives, but not as fast as we would like. Before the pandemic, only half of people of all ages were tested, “said Dr. R. Briediene.
Of great concern, according to the doctor, is that all programs were suspended at the beginning of the pandemic.
Cancer.
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“Already, over the past year, we have more advanced cancers, more cancers in young people and fewer in older people. This shows that older people may have been afraid to come to medical institutions, ”said the radiologist.
According to the data of the State Health Insurance Fund (VLK), the colon cancer diagnostic program in 2020. 172 thousand participated. population – 34 percent. less than the year before. The number of participants in the cervical cancer program fell 28 percent last year. to 88 thousand, breast cancer – 36 percent. to 76 thousand, prostate cancer – 43 percent. to 51 thousand, cardiovascular diseases – 27 percent. up to 214 thousand.
Last year, 23.7 million was allocated for the implementation of these programs. of which EUR 8.4 million euros remained unused.
Listed the most common risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Doctors’ eyes turn to the cardiovascular diseases that are also difficult to detect in time without preventive examinations. Cardiologist, doctor of Santara clinics, head of the Vilnius branch of the Lithuanian Heart Association prof. Žaneta Petrulionienė recalls that a preventive cardiovascular program has been in place in Lithuania since 2006. In 2019, more than 290 thousand people were screened under this program. However, in 2020, fewer inspections were carried out due to the pandemic.
The prevention program is open to people who have not yet had cardiovascular disease, men aged 40 to 55, and women aged 50 to 65.
According to the prophet, the arrival of people who have not yet had cardiovascular disease reveals a great many risk factors that can lead to a stroke or heart attack in a few years.
Žaneta Petrulionienė
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The most common is dyslipidemia, an increase in cholesterol and, less commonly, an increase in triglycerides.
The second most common risk factor or disease is arterial hypertension. From 2009 to 2018, the number of cases of arterial hypertension decreased: in women from 64.95 percent. up to 49.01 percent and men from 50.94 percent. up to 44.44 percent.
However, about one in two individuals of program age still have high blood pressure, and many are unaware of this.
Another risk factor is metabolic syndrome caused by obesity in the abdomen, as well as an increase in blood pressure, impaired glucose metabolism, an increase in triglycerides, a decrease in good fats. When a person sees a doctor, about a third is diagnosed with a metabolic syndrome. Although the incidence of metabolic syndrome decreased slightly in the female group, it increased in the male group.
This prevention program, according to the doctor, also clarifies new cases of diabetes. Slow but steady growth in diabetes is currently being observed.
“It’s a bad trend in researching the prevalence of smoking. The overall percentage of smokers was 39.8 percent. men 40-55 years and 11 percent. women 50-65 years. The number of women who smoke is a very bad trend, “said prof. Ž. Petrulioniene.
The professor also told how to see with your own eyes what happens if risk factors are not identified in time.
“I work in a cardiology hospital and I see those people who come with myocardial infarction, after resuscitation, who need to dilate blood vessels, perform surgeries, etc. Then we ask them if they visited under the program or examined them under the program. The answer is often no. Didn’t visit because they didn’t feel anything. The most common cause of strokes and heart attacks is atherosclerosis, which has been silent for many years. The arteries narrow, but the person does not feel anything. Your family doctor can calculate the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years. It is necessary to hold back so that this does not happen, “said the professor.
Cholesterolis
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The doctor once again invited everyone in the age groups to come to the family doctors for a preventive check-up.
Internal motivation alone is not enough
According to VLK, participation in free health prevention programs during the first 2021. months, it became more active again and practically reached the pre-pandemic 2019. level. Nevertheless, it remains low compared to many Western European countries, with none of the five prevention programs collecting 50%. target group participants.
“Although prevention programs have been implemented in Lithuania for several years, their awareness is still low. We can see this from the reaction of patients, when family doctors offer them a preventive health check according to one of these programs – as soon as the units have heard about them, ”says J. Dūdienė, a member of the Board of the Lithuanian Family Doctors’ Trade Union.
According to her, in order to achieve better results in the field of health prevention, it is not enough just to motivate the conscious population – to take care of their health. Employers could also pay more attention to this by enabling employees to undergo regular preventive health examinations. It would also be worthwhile to take advantage of the growing types of life and health insurance by requiring policyholders to undergo regular health check-ups, thus preventing the onset and development of chronic diseases in a timely manner.
Invites to “return” to the doctors
According to Vida Augustinienė, Chairwoman of the Council of Representatives of Lithuanian Patients’ Organizations, last year’s reduced focus on health prevention was due to both limited access to health services and public fears: consult a doctor in case of illness ”.
Droplet
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According to the Institute of Hygiene, last year 16.3 mln. visits to doctors – 36 percent. less than the year before (25.3 million). Last year, family doctors received 7.7 million. visitors – 37 percent. less than 2019 (12.3 million).
“As the coronavirus situation gradually worsens, we need to ‘go back’ to doctors and trust patients to have a fully reopened healthcare system with perhaps the most stringent COVID-19 controls. Summer is probably the most suitable time for health prevention, when queues at doctor’s offices are traditionally shortened during the holiday season, ”says V. Augustinienė.
She is echoed by radiologist R. Briedienė: “Cancer does not go on holiday in summer, therefore the best time for health prevention and diagnosis is“ now ”. In order to be screened for colon cancer under the prevention program, the National Cancer Institute currently has to wait about 2 weeks, and for breast cancer – 2-3 weeks. “
In order to encourage more active use of preventive health programs, doctors ‘and patients’ organizations initiate a long-term educational campaign “Back to Doctors”. They are joined by the Lithuanian Pharmacy Association – residents who have visited more than 700 pharmacies in the country will also be invited to register with doctors for preventive health examinations.
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