Type 2 diabetes in Tirana City, Albania: a rapid increase in a country in transition

Shapo, Laidon; McKee, Martin; Coker, Richard; Ylli, Agron

doi:10.1046/j.1464-5491.2003.01093.x

Cited by 15 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…However, the higher prevalence of polyneuropathy in Tirana than in Saranda points to toxic or metabolic agents that predominate in an urban environment. A higher prevalence of diabetic neuropathy is a possible explanation; a rapid increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes was observed in the city of Tirana [30], and this is consistent with that reported in Western populations. Environmental (occupational) toxins are another possibility.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

High Prevalence of Major Neurological Disorders in Two Albanian Communities: Results of a Door-to-Door Survey

et al. 2012

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Background: There are few epidemiological studies on neurological disorders in Albania. Methods: A door-to-door survey was undertaken in two geographical areas (Tirana and Saranda) with different socioeconomic backgrounds. Two random samples of the local population underwent a structured interview to ascertain headache, epilepsy, dementia, parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, polyneuropathy, stroke and cerebral palsy. Each diagnosis was made using standard criteria for epidemiological studies and was confirmed by history, neurological examination and, where available, the review of personal medical records. Lifetime prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Of the 9,869 individuals screened (Tirana 4,953; Saranda 4,916), 4,867 were males aged 1–91 years (median 39 years) and 5,002 were females aged 1–96 years (median 37 years). Crude prevalence ratios (per 1,000) were: headache 241.9 (233.5–250.3), polyneuropathy 32.5 (29.0–36.0), epilepsy 14.2 (11.7–16.3), stroke 12.4 (10.2–14.6), dementia 9.6 (7.7–11.5), parkinsonism 8.0 (6.2–9.8), cerebral palsy 4.8 (3.4–6.2), and multiple sclerosis 0.3 (0.0–0.6). Prevalence varied with age and gender, with differences across diseases. Except for polyneuropathy (Tirana 39.8; Saranda 25.2), ratios were not different in the two study areas. Conclusions: The prevalence of selected neurological disorders in Albania is higher than in other countries. Differences may be explained by study design, population structure and/or genetic and environmental factors.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

High Prevalence of Major Neurological Disorders in Two Albanian Communities: Results of a Door-to-Door Survey

et al. 2012

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“…10 Unfortunately, as already noted, we do not have historical data with which to compare our findings. However, data are available from the Seven Country Study, which had study sites in Greece and Italy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…The least common major condition examined was type 2 diabetes (results will be reported elsewhere 10 ). This determined the required sample size, estimated to be 1188 people to be able to detect a prevalence of 2.9%, taking 3.7% as the worst value.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of hypertension and associated cardiovascular risk factors in a country in transition: a population based survey in Tirana City, Albania

Shapo

Pomerleau²,

McKee³

2003

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health

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Study objective: To describe the prevalence of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors on the adult population of Tirana City (Albania). Design: Cross sectional survey. Setting: Tirana City in mid-2001. Participants: 1120 adults aged 25 years and over (response rate=72.7%). Main results: Overall, hypertension prevalence (blood pressure =140 and/or 90 mm Hg, or known hypertensive receiving anti-hypertensive treatment) was 31.8% (36.6% and 27.4% in men and women respectively). Age standardised prevalence of hypertension (adjusted to the adult population of Tirana) was 30.2% (99% confidence intervals 29.8% to 30.6%) in men and 22.7% (22.3% to 23.1%) in women. Men were significantly more likely to be hypertensive than women (p value=0.001). Of those who had been diagnosed with hypertension, 87% were receiving anti-hypertensive therapy and more than half of them (52%) were adequately controlled. The prevalence of hypertension increased with increasing age and was more common in the obese in both sexes. While the prevalence of hypertension matched that in other industrialised and transition countries, the combination of hypertension with other cardiovascular risk factors was rather less common. Conclusion: These findings provide important new evidence on the prevalence of hypertension and its association with other cardiovascular risk factors in Albania. Albania is in a state of rapid transition, with evidence that risk factors for non-communicable diseases have already increased considerably over the past two decades. These finding provide a unique baseline against which future change can be compared.

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“…These recent increases in urbanisation and socio-economic status, reduced physical activity level and dietary changes are likely to have impacted on the prevalence of obesity 15 . Knowledge of the current prevalence of obesity in Albania is thus important, particularly as the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes seems to have increased sharply in recent years 16 . This paper reports the distribution of body weight and obesity in the adult population of the capital of Albania, Tirana, in 2001.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Body weight patterns in a country in transition: a population-based survey in Tirana City, Albania

Shapo

Pomerleau

Coker

et al. 2003

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: This paper reports the distribution and determinants of body mass index (BMI) and obesity in Tirana City (Albania). Design: Cross-sectional survey conducted in mid-2001. Setting: Tirana City. Subjects: One thousand one hundred and twenty adults aged 25 years and over (response rate 72.7%), selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Results: Over three-quarters of male and female respondents had an excess body weight. The overall population prevalence of obesity in Tirana was estimated to be 22.0% in men and 30.9% in women. Obesity affected both genders (age-standardised prevalence in males 22.0%, females 30.9%; age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.89; 99% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-2.67) and all age groups, but most particularly middle-aged women. The age-standardised overall prevalence of central obesity was 21.6% in men and 29.4% in women (age-adjusted OR 1.58; 99% CI 1.11-2.25), increasing with age ðP , 0:01Þ: In women, the likelihood of being obese was inversely related to educational achievement (trend P ¼ 0:001) and alcohol consumption (trend P ¼ 0:009). Income, smoking and leisure-time physical activity were not associated with obesity. Conclusions: Excess weight and obesity are major public health problems in the adult population of Tirana, but most particularly in middle-aged women. The high obesity prevalence observed along with the recent decrease in physical activity, dietary changes and increase in smoking prevalence make it probable that there will be substantial increases in many non-communicable diseases in Albania in the coming decades. Health promotion strategies are needed that prevent excess weight gain in the Albanian population.

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Type 2 diabetes in Tirana City, Albania: a rapid increase in a country in transition

Abstract: The prevalence of diabetes in Albania has increased rapidly, consistent with what has been seen in other countries undergoing rapid modernization. It is likely to increase further in the future, with important implications for health policy.

Cited by 15 publications

References 18 publications

High Prevalence of Major Neurological Disorders in Two Albanian Communities: Results of a Door-to-Door Survey

High Prevalence of Major Neurological Disorders in Two Albanian Communities: Results of a Door-to-Door Survey

Epidemiology of hypertension and associated cardiovascular risk factors in a country in transition: a population based survey in Tirana City, Albania

Body weight patterns in a country in transition: a population-based survey in Tirana City, Albania

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