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Report/ The number of patients with lung problems and cancer is increasing! How smoking, lack of physical activity and obesity affected
2025-04-16 13:01:13 / JETË
Chronic pulmonary diseases are on the rise. A report by the Institute of Public Health conducted in Tirana, Elbasan, Fier, Kukës and Korçë raises concerns that 37.7% of patients are in stage 3 and 35.4% in stage 4 of the disease, making treatment difficult.
The causes are well known, from a sedentary lifestyle, smoking to occupation, which increase the risk of being affected by these diseases. "The results obtained showed that smoking, lack of physical activity, diet, obesity (overweight, obesity grade I, obesity grade II) as well as occupation were among the main risk factors, which influenced the development of pulmonary problems (COPD) in 82.1% of the cases studied and mainly the male gender and the age group > 50 years.
"The results obtained on the stage of the disease showed that the highest percentage of FEV1 values are found in the age group >50 years, stage III (37.7%), followed by stage IV (35.4%) and stage II (14.5%)," - is quoted in the IHP report on the prevalence and risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Doctors at the "Shefqet Ndroqi" University Hospital note that in parallel with COPD, cases of lung cancer are also increasing.
"In recent years, regarding two of the main pathologies that we treat at the 'Shefqet Ndroqi' hospital, such as lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), we have seen increasing numbers. A good portion of cases are treated by pulmonologists at dispensaries in Tirana or district pulmonologists, but an increase in their cases has been noticed," says pulmonologist Arben Tanka.
IHP experts say in the report that lack of physical activity, diet, obesity, air pollution and occupation are among the main factors that have influenced the development of lung problems in 82.1% of cases, but doctors claim that smoking is the main factor.
"One of the main factors is smoking and it must be said that in recent years the smoking trend has been increasing, at least in the last 10 years it has also spread to women. The number of cars has also increased, traffic has increased and is heavier in big cities, we also have construction businesses. We can assume that air pollution has also influenced the increase in the number of cases of COPD, but the greatest weight is attributed to smoking", - adds the pulmonologist.
Another element remains the decrease in the age of patients, under 50. The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases has an increasing prevalence throughout Europe as a result of increasing risk factors such as smoking and air pollution.
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