Experts from the Institute of Public Health have analyzed the results of the basic health check-up, “Check-up” in about 1 million check-ups by 2018.
Of the 954,667 visits under the program it was found that 1 quarter of them resulted in sugars and fats above the norm and also 3 in 4 adults overweight.
24.5% of visits with high blood sugar
The results of the analysis showed that the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes is 24.5%, so 1 in 4 adults turn out to have unhealthy blood sugar levels. According to IPH experts, this is a really worrying figure and should raise awareness of the population and health personnel about the urgent need to control and prevent high blood sugar.
According to the regions, the highest prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes is in Tirana (about 28%), while the lowest in Debar (about 19%).
Regarding gender distribution, the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes was higher in men compared to women (29.3% versus 21.7%, respectively). The risk of having high blood sugar (diabetes or prediabetes) increases steadily with age, for both men and women.
25.6 with fat above the norm
Nationwide, the prevalence of (bad) cholesterol above the norm was in 25.6% of participants. In men the prevalence of LDL cholesterol above the norm is 22.5%, while in women it is even higher, at 27.5%.
The prevalence of cholesterol above the norm increases linearly with age. Thus, the lowest prevalence is in the age group under 44 years (15.2%), while the highest prevalence is in the age group over 55 years (30.3%). The prevalence of low (good) HDL cholesterol follows the same profile, with 26% of participants having it below normal.
3 in 4 overweight adults
Public health experts found that the prevalence of overweight nationwide is 42%, while the prevalence of obesity is 33%. Thus, from the anthropometric measurements undertaken in the framework of the Basic Health Control Program, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is 75%, so 3 in 4 Albanian adults (individuals in the age group 35-70 years) turn out to be overweight and / or obese.
Such a high prevalence of overweight (including obesity) is a really worrying figure, which should raise awareness of the population for the control and prevention of overweight as a major risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, etc., say experts. In terms of distribution by regions, the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity is present in Shkodra (79%), while the lowest is in Debar (65%). Regarding gender distribution, the prevalence of overweight in males and females was slightly higher in males (45.9% vs. 39.1%, respectively), while the opposite is observed in the case of obesity where there are slightly more obese females compared to males ( 32.7% versus 40.7% respectively.
