RSU research team to present data from anthropology study in Ventspils
On Friday, 8 May at 11:00, a Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) team consisting of Professor Jānis Vētra, project administrator and doctoral student Arta Grabčika, and Faculty of Medicine students Felicita Luīze Kozlovska and Kristiana Jurkevica will present data from the anthropology study conducted during the summer at the Ventspils Culture Centre.
1,366 participants were examined in Kurzeme, including 423 residents of Kuldīga, 380 residents of Ventspils, and 563 residents of Liepāja. All participants underwent a comprehensive programme of examinations and data collection, including 3D body scanning, body mass and blood pressure measurements, determination of lung vital capacity, digital photography, as well as completion of a questionnaire that included questions about participants’ health status and connection to the area. Adult participants were also offered the option to provide blood samples to contribute to a biological sample collection, which will enable future genetic research (such as analysing taste receptor genotypes and dietary habits).
Last year in Piebalga, the gender ratio among study participants was nearly 50:50, whereas in Kurzeme women were much more involved. Participants ranged in age from 11 months to 91 years, with the tallest and, consequently, heaviest residents observed in Ventspils. A negative trend was observed in blood pressure measurements, with 70% of men and 56% of women having high blood pressure.
The data obtained will be used to create a social profile of the region, analyse the relationship between chronic diseases and body measurements, and examine the functional status of the musculoskeletal system, the health of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and changes in the body over the course of a lifetime. Among the initiatives included in the project is a comparison of anthropometric data with historical measurements from 1936–1938 to identify changes that have occurred over time.
The project has been carried out since 2024 by a team of researchers and students from the RSU Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, and its goal is to systematically study the anthropological and health characteristics of the Latvian population, drawing on both the historic legacy of Prof. Jēkabs Prīmanis and modern scientific methods. Scientists from RSU, together with students, are continuing the research that was initiated nearly 90 years ago by the renowned anthropologist Prof. Prīmanis.
The next public meeting and data presentation is scheduled to take place on 4 June at 17:30 at the Liepāja Latvian Society House (second floor, small hall) at 5/6 Rožu laukums, Liepāja.
