Key result
Age-standardized cardiovascular mortality in Albania drops ~38% since 1990 despite rising crude deaths.
Why the study?
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, prompting an analysis of long-term mortality and disease burden trends in Albania compared with other Southeastern European countries.
Observational
Yes
While age-standardized CVD mortality and DALY rates in Albania declined substantially between 1990 and 2023, crude rates and proportional burden rose markedly due to demographic ageing, with persistent disparities remaining across Southeastern European countries.
Crude cardiovascular mortality rise signals growing population burden in Albania; leaves open whether similar trends apply across Southeastern Europe.
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.
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Dibra et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Cardiovascular diseases. Temporal transition in Albania (2023 vs 1990) vs. 1990 baseline and six other Southeastern European countries was evaluated on Age-standardized cardiovascular disease mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 population). In Albania between 1990 and 2023, age-standardized cardiovascular mortality decreased by 38% (from 401 to 250 per 100,000), while crude mortality rose by 93% (from 227 to 437 per 100,000).
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