Trends in cardiovascular disease mortality and burden in Albania, 1990-2023: a comparison with Southeastern European countries
Abstract
Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. We analyzed long-term trends in CVD mortality and disease burden in Albania between 1990 and 2023, using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2023, and compared Albania’s profile with six other Southeastern European (SEE) countries. Crude CVD mortality and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) rates in Albania increased markedly over the study period, reflecting demographic ageing, whereas age-standardized rates declined substantially, indicating improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The proportion of deaths and DALYs attributable to CVDs increased significantly, highlighting the growing dominance of these chronic conditions within the Albanian national health profile. Comparative analysis revealed persistent disparities across SEE countries: Slovenia achieved the lowest age-standardized mortality and DALY rates by 2023, whereas Serbia continued to exhibit the highest burden. Albania ranked intermediate, with reductions evident but still above global averages. Overall, findings from this analysis emphasize the urgent need for coordinated regional strategies to reduce CVD risk factors, strengthen preventive services, and improve equity in healthcare outcomes across SEE countries.
Related
- Treatment restrictions after acute stroke across nine European countries and their association with 90-day mortality: a post hoc analysis of the PRECIOUS randomised controlled trial.
- Global Trends in Cardiovascular Mortality and Major Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, 2000 to 2023: A Longitudinal Ecological Analysis of 204 Countries and Territories
- Comparison analysis of the triglyceride-glucose index, triglyceride-glucose and frailty index in cardiovascular disease and mortality association among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A population-based cohort study.
- Comparison of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease awareness across two cross-sectional surveys in Southeastern China from 2019 to 2025
- Assessing coping, loneliness, resilience and partner burden in patients with skin conditions: protocol for a multicentre cross-sectional study across 23 dermatology centres in 15 European countries
BibTeX
@article{dibra2026trends,
title = {{Trends in cardiovascular disease mortality and burden in Albania, 1990-2023: a comparison with Southeastern European countries}},
author = {Laureta Dibra and Gentiana Qirjako and Armand Gjana and Alban Dibra and Genc Burazeri},
journal = {Healthcare in Low-resource Settings},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.4081/hls.2026.16005},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2026.16005},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Trends in cardiovascular disease mortality and burden in Albania, 1990-2023: a comparison with Southeastern European countries
AU - Laureta Dibra
AU - Gentiana Qirjako
AU - Armand Gjana
AU - Alban Dibra
AU - Genc Burazeri
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Healthcare in Low-resource Settings
DO - 10.4081/hls.2026.16005
UR - https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2026.16005
AB - Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. We analyzed long-term trends in CVD mortality and disease burden in Albania between 1990 and 2023, using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2023, and compared Albania’s profile with six other Southeastern European (SEE) countries. Crude CVD mortality and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) rates in Albania increased markedly over the study period, reflecting demographic ageing, whereas age-standardized rates declined substantially, indicating improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The proportion of deaths and DALYs attributable to CVDs increased significantly, highlighting the growing dominance of these chronic conditions within the Albanian national health profile. Comparative analysis revealed persistent disparities across SEE countries: Slovenia achieved the lowest age-standardized mortality and DALY rates by 2023, whereas Serbia continued to exhibit the highest burden. Albania ranked intermediate, with reductions evident but still above global averages. Overall, findings from this analysis emphasize the urgent need for coordinated regional strategies to reduce CVD risk factors, strengthen preventive services, and improve equity in healthcare outcomes across SEE countries.
SN - 2281-7824
ER -