IK KPS: Non-stick diseases rise in Kosovo, hypertension top

Kosovo's National Institute of Public Health (IKSHPK) has indicated that chronic non-traditional diseases, including hypertension, continue to be the main cause of disease and mortality in the country, presenting a continuing challenge to the health system.

According to data published by the IKSHPK in the 1920s and 2024s, there has been an increase in reported cases of these diseases.

“Arterial hypertension remains the most frequent diagnosis, making up over half the cases in the two years, while diabetes, chronic lung observative diseases (COPD) and malaria occupy a significant part of the overall health burden”, the IKSHPK report says.

According to this institute, primary arterial hypertension has marked growth from 20,472 cases in 2023 to 21,425 cases in 2024, which represents a 4.7 percent increase. According to data, cases dominate people over the age of 50, with the highest percentage in the 6569 age group.

And while prevalence is the highest in females, males are more vulnerable to heart complications, including a meocard heart attack.

As for diabetes, I The KSHPK reports that this disease presents one of the most serious public health challenges in Kosovo. The cases of Type 2 diabetes have increased dramatically from 9,723 in 2023 to 11,729 in 2024, marking a 20.6 percent increase.

At the same time, Type 1 diabetes has marked reductions from 3,410 to 2,681 cases. According to the IKSHPK, this increase is linked to such factors as obesity, lack of physical activity, unhealthy nutrition and urbanization. The most frequent cases are recorded in the 6569 - year - old group, but there is an increasingly early display of the disease.

Regarding heart disease, IKSHPK data shows changes in certain categories. Angina petoris has dropped from 1,715 cases in 2023 to 403 cases in 2024, while the acute Miocard heart attack has increased from 1,800 to 2,366 cases.

Chronic ischemic diseases have also marked a decrease. I The KSHPK estimates that these changes are also related to the way disease reporting and codening, while increasing heart attacks underscore the need for strengthening early prevention and diagnosis.

Mountain Diseases, According to I The KSHPK continues to remain an important public health problem despite a decline in new cases in 2024. In 2023 there were 4,165 cases, while in 2024 the number dropped to 3,644, marking a decline of about 12.5 percent. Sex distribution remains almost equal, at a slightly higher rate in women in 2024.

breast cancer remains among the most common in females, while male people dominate skin cancer and bulgal cancer, according to IKSHPK data. /Periscopi