The Balkan countries in Global Burden of Diseases studies

ABSTRACT

Global burden of diseases studies collected and analysed data from more than 195 countries, reflecting premature death and disability related to more than 350 diseases and injuries, by age and sex, since 1990 to the present. The national profile of each country in the studies contains comparative data for 2007 and 2019. The purpose of this paper was to analyse the differences in leading risk factors and causes of global burden of diseases between Balkan countries. The leading causes of years of life lost due to disability are mainly chronic non-communicable diseases, with the leading positions being low back pain, falls, headaches, diabetes, etc. The summary indicator for lost years of life due to premature death and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 2017 again shows the leading role of ischemic heart disease and stroke. Preventable mortality in Bulgaria remains very high. Much of the overall burden of disease in Bulgaria can be attributed to behavioural risk factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary risks and low physical activity.

Keywords: global burden of diseases, Balkans, years of live lost.

Address for correspondence:

Dima K. TSANOVA
Department of „Public Health Sciences“, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University-Pleven, Bulgaria
Address: Sv. Kliment Ohridski Str.no.1, 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria
Email: d_krumova@abv.bg; Phone: +35964884278