Viruses became more aggressive in 2024/ The burden of disease in the population increased

2025-01-17 07:21:00, Shëndeti CNA

Viruses became more aggressive in 2024/ The burden of disease in the population

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The burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases in the population is increasing year by year.

Data from the Institute of Public Health show that in the last three months of 2024, the number of people who had suffered from respiratory tract infections was significantly higher than in the previous year (see attached graph).

Official data shows that from September to December 2024, the number of people with respiratory infections from viruses averaged 12,500 per week, up from less than 10,000 per week during the same period last year.

Doctors specializing in respiratory diseases explain that the number of people who contract the flu with infection is increasing year by year. The major reasons for this situation are the aging population and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some people who have had severe Covid-19 symptoms are now more exposed to viruses. The aging population also makes them more vulnerable to the flu.

The number of people with more than one diagnosis is increasing very rapidly, as this is also related to the aging of the baby boom generation in the 1960s and to lifestyle, pollution, etc.

Most people over 60 suffer from diabetes and other comorbidities that create a worsening condition for patients over 60, increasing the need for medication treatment, even for the flu.

Also, other data from the IPH shows that in 2023 the number of breast cancer cases increased.

In 2023, 744 women were diagnosed with breast cancer nationwide, or 61.4 per 100,000 women. The disease is also developing in men, as 15 cases of breast cancer were also diagnosed in men in 2023. The absolute number of cases diagnosed in 2023 increased by 4.8% compared to 2022.

According to the IHP, it is estimated that there are about 5,000 women living with breast cancer in our country. The risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer increases with age up to 70 years. The maximum risk is between the ages of 50 and 70. After this age, a decrease is observed. The risk is very low, but not zero at the age of 20-30 years.

The median age of new cases at the time of diagnosis is 57.6 years in 2023. The increase in median age is a trend influenced by the increase in the average age of the population or the relative "aging" of the population and is reported everywhere in the world, the IHP report states./Monitor