in Albania - Instituti i Shendetit Publik
in Albania - Instituti i Shendetit Publik
in Albania - Instituti i Shendetit Publik
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INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE IN TIRANA, ALBANIASelf-reported health and type 2 diabetes mellitus <strong>in</strong> arepresentative sample of <strong>Albania</strong>n adults: a crosssectionalstudyArjan Bregu 1 , Erv<strong>in</strong> Toçi 2 , Afrim Pirraçi 3 , Jolanda Hyska 2 , Gentiana Qirjako 2 ,Irida Pano 4 , Llukan Rrumbullaku 51M<strong>in</strong>istry of Health, Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>;2Institute of Public Health, Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>;3University Hospital Center Mother Teresa , Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>;4Faculty of Technical Medical Sciences, University of Medic<strong>in</strong>e, Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>;5Faculty of Medic<strong>in</strong>e, University of Medic<strong>in</strong>e, Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>.Aim: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is an <strong>in</strong>curablechronic disease. Full collaboration and participationof <strong>in</strong>dividual patients is required to successfullymanage and control DM. This could affect patientsperception of their health status. In this context, ouraim was to assess the association of self-rated healthand DM.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out<strong>in</strong> a representative sample of adults aged e 18 yearsold <strong>in</strong> Tirana, dur<strong>in</strong>g April-November 2012. 845randomly selected <strong>in</strong>dividuals accepted to participate(response rate: 84.5%). Participants were askedwhether they had been ever told by a doctor thatthey had diabetes and to rate their own health status.Basic socio-demographic data were also collected.Results: Mean age of participants was 50.4 yearsold (51.3 years <strong>in</strong> men and 49.7% <strong>in</strong> women). Theoverall prevalence of diabetes <strong>in</strong> this sample ofadults was 11.5%. Approximately 7% ofparticipants rated their own health status as poor(7.0% of men and 7.4% of women). The overallprevalence of diabetes was 11.5%. DM prevalencewas significantly higher among those self-perceiv<strong>in</strong>gtheir health status as poor (35.2%) and average(23.0%) compared to 5.1% of diabetics withgood health status. In multivariable adjustedanalysis, self-perceived poor health was stronglyassociated with diabetes (OR=6.5, 95% CI=2.9-14.7).Conclusion: DM might be associated withsignificantly worse quality of life even aftercontroll<strong>in</strong>g for a number of socio-demographicfactors. There is need for urgent patient education<strong>in</strong>terventions <strong>in</strong> order to reduce the stress related toDM among <strong>Albania</strong>n patients.Keywords: adults, <strong>Albania</strong>, diabetes mellitus, self-perceived health.ALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT23
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