ALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENTPrevention of cardiovascular diseases <strong>in</strong> theRepublic of MacedoniaElena Kosevska 1 , Doncho Donev 2 , Aziz Pollozhani 1 , Shaban Memeti 11Institute for Public Health, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia;2Institute for Social Medic<strong>in</strong>e, Medical Faculty,University Ss. Cyril and Methodius ,Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.Aim: The aim of this study is to present the currentstatus of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) <strong>in</strong> theRepublic of Macedonia and preventive measuresthat are undertaken <strong>in</strong> order to reduce its relatedmorbidity and mortality.Methods: Statistical data for morbidity andmortality were analyzed. Furthermore, researchstudies and professional materials from domesticand foreign literature were scrut<strong>in</strong>ized.Results: 57.9% (approximately, 11000 people) diedfrom CVD <strong>in</strong> the Republic of Macedonia. Thereis no trend of reduc<strong>in</strong>g deaths from these diseases(<strong>in</strong> 1990: 7113 deaths, or 48.6% of the overallnumber of deaths). One fifth of deaths were dueto ischemic heart diseases (IHD) and 90% of deathswere due to acute heart attack. The rate of hospitalmorbidity by CVD <strong>in</strong> the Republic of Macedoniais equal to approximately 172.2/ 10000, with anaverage of 35000 patients, mostly men. CVDaccounted for 14.3% of the total number of hospitaldiseases. The most common disease was CHD thatmostly occurs after 40 years of life and is morecommon <strong>in</strong> men.Conclusion: The Republic of Macedonia follows theWHO recommendations for a comprehensiveapproach for CVD prevention as a successful publichealth measure. Thus, <strong>in</strong> 2013, the Macedoniangovernment adopted a national program for CVDprevention, as it was proposed <strong>in</strong> the National Strategyfor NCD Prevention and Control. A holistic approach<strong>in</strong> implementation <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g health promotion andscreen<strong>in</strong>g is part of the program with more active<strong>in</strong>volvement of primary health care doctors. Ma<strong>in</strong>stakeholders <strong>in</strong>clude the M<strong>in</strong>istry of Health, the Instituteof Public Health, ten Public Health Centres, and theUniversity Cl<strong>in</strong>ic for Cardiology.Keywords: cardiovascular disease, non-communicable diseases, prevention, Republic of Macedonia.20 ALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT
INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE IN TIRANA, ALBANIAAssociation of particulate air pollution with hospitaladmissions <strong>in</strong> pediatric cl<strong>in</strong>ics <strong>in</strong> Prist<strong>in</strong>e, KosovoAntigona Ukëhaxhaj 1 , Naser Ramadani 1 , Dragan Gjorgjev 2 ,Selvete Krasniqi 1 , Tahire Maloku 1 , Drita Zogaj 1 , Sanije Gashi 1 ,Arbresha Loxha 11National Institute of Public Health, Prist<strong>in</strong>e, Kosovo;2Medical Faculty, University of Skopje Kirij i Metodij , Skopje, FYROM.Aim: Air pollution is a critical environmentalproblem <strong>in</strong> urban areas <strong>in</strong> Kosovo. Ambient airquality is particularly poor <strong>in</strong> Prist<strong>in</strong>e, the Obiliq area,and the Drenas area. The pr<strong>in</strong>cipal sources ofcontam<strong>in</strong>ants are sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogenoxides NO and NO2 (NOx), ozone (O3), lead(Pb), carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PMor dust). The objective of this study was to<strong>in</strong>vestigate and def<strong>in</strong>e the current burden of acuteand chronic effects of particulate matters airpollution through specific mortality data andrespiratoryhospital admissions <strong>in</strong> UCCK Prist<strong>in</strong>e,as well as to estimate potential benefits ofdecreas<strong>in</strong>g of daily PM10 levels.Methods: The analytical research has predicted thepotential benefit of decreas<strong>in</strong>g of daily average forconcentrations of O 3, Pm10 and PM2.5 and theimpact on human health <strong>in</strong> Prist<strong>in</strong>e and Drenas forthe years 2010, 2011 and 2012. The study populationconsisted of all hospitalized patients <strong>in</strong> pediatriccl<strong>in</strong>ics for the period 2010-2012. Air pollutionmeasurements was used by KHMI data for theperiod 2010-2012 for the municipality of Prist<strong>in</strong>e<strong>in</strong> the measurements po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong>: KHMI-MESP whichis equipped with automatic analyzer sulfur dioxide(SO 2), nitrogen oxides (NO x) carbon monoxide(CO), O 3, suspended particle analyzer PM10/PM2.5with air po<strong>in</strong>ter Automatic Air Compact Monitor<strong>in</strong>gSystem (Version 2.2) recordum MESSTECHNIKGmbH. Poisson regression models were used toassess the association of air pollutant concentrationswith hospitalization rates.Results: The air quality data from KHMI show thatPM, notably, exceeds the European Union limitvalue of an average annual concentration of 40 ìg/m 3 for PM10, both <strong>in</strong> the city center and <strong>in</strong> thesuburban area and often exceeds the one-day limitvalue (not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year)of 50 ìg/ m 3 . The overall number of deaths <strong>in</strong>children for the period 2010-2012 was 4880. Overallmorbidity <strong>in</strong> children was 2389: among childrenaged 0-4 years there were 1871 (78.3%) cases withrespiratory diseases, whereas <strong>in</strong> children aged 5-14years there were 518 (21.7%) cases with respiratorydiseases.Conclusion: This study has shown strong andconsistent associations between children hospitaladmissions from respiratory diseases and airpollution <strong>in</strong> Prist<strong>in</strong>e, Obiliq and Drenas. Thesef<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs provide evidence that air pollution cont<strong>in</strong>uesto have a significant adverse effect on populationhealth <strong>in</strong> Kosovo.Keywords: A ir pollution, airborneparticles, children respiratorydiseases, hospital admission, mortalityALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT21
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