Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Albania

Introduction: This study provides a general overview of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Albania. The aim was to assess the spread of COVID-19 in the country by describing the demographic and epidemiological characteristics. Methodology: We performed a 12-month national observa...

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Main Authors: Elona Gaxhja, Gjergji Koja, Brunilda Elezi, Elvin Rada, Shkelqim Hidri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/18636
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author Elona Gaxhja
Gjergji Koja
Brunilda Elezi
Elvin Rada
Shkelqim Hidri
author_facet Elona Gaxhja
Gjergji Koja
Brunilda Elezi
Elvin Rada
Shkelqim Hidri
author_sort Elona Gaxhja
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: This study provides a general overview of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Albania. The aim was to assess the spread of COVID-19 in the country by describing the demographic and epidemiological characteristics. Methodology: We performed a 12-month national observational, epidemiological study. The data were extracted from the national digital system of Infectious Diseases Information and included all reported COVID-19 cases. Demographic data, number of tests, number of confirmed positive cases, and number of deaths were analyzed to build a general overview of the pandemic in Albania. Results: The database comprised 251,139 tested individuals and 250,926 were reported as confirmed cases. The average age of the tested cases was 44.83 years; 19.8% of the studied individuals were 51–60 years old and this group had the highest proportion (51.7%) of females. The estimated prevalence of COVID-19 in Albania was 51.31% (110,397 cases). Tirana, the capital of Albania, had the highest percentage of COVID-19 positive cases (44.9%) with an incidence rate 3,879.02 individuals/100,000 inhabitants. The COVID-19 curve reached its peak in February 2021 with 54,046 cases. The mortality rate was 1.18/1000 inhabitants. Conclusions: This demographic and epidemiological analysis provides a better understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic, and. the findings can contribute towards perception and re-investigation of the spread of COVID-19 in Albania, However, further studies covering longer periods and deeper analysis are needed for developing an epidemiological mathematical model, as a tool to develop and implement specific strategies for monitoring future pandemics.
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spelling doaj-art-08dc1e85209241fca82c7c5b343c025d2025-08-20T02:14:07ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802024-10-01181010.3855/jidc.18636Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in AlbaniaElona Gaxhja0Gjergji Koja1Brunilda Elezi2Elvin Rada3Shkelqim Hidri4Nursing Department, University of Elbasan “Aleksander Xhuvani”, AlbaniaClinical Department, University of Elbasan “Aleksander Xhuvani”, AlbaniaClinical Department, University of Elbasan “Aleksander Xhuvani”, AlbaniaMathematical Department, University of Elbasan “Aleksander Xhuvani”, AlbaniaClinical Department, University of Elbasan “Aleksander Xhuvani”, Albania Introduction: This study provides a general overview of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Albania. The aim was to assess the spread of COVID-19 in the country by describing the demographic and epidemiological characteristics. Methodology: We performed a 12-month national observational, epidemiological study. The data were extracted from the national digital system of Infectious Diseases Information and included all reported COVID-19 cases. Demographic data, number of tests, number of confirmed positive cases, and number of deaths were analyzed to build a general overview of the pandemic in Albania. Results: The database comprised 251,139 tested individuals and 250,926 were reported as confirmed cases. The average age of the tested cases was 44.83 years; 19.8% of the studied individuals were 51–60 years old and this group had the highest proportion (51.7%) of females. The estimated prevalence of COVID-19 in Albania was 51.31% (110,397 cases). Tirana, the capital of Albania, had the highest percentage of COVID-19 positive cases (44.9%) with an incidence rate 3,879.02 individuals/100,000 inhabitants. The COVID-19 curve reached its peak in February 2021 with 54,046 cases. The mortality rate was 1.18/1000 inhabitants. Conclusions: This demographic and epidemiological analysis provides a better understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic, and. the findings can contribute towards perception and re-investigation of the spread of COVID-19 in Albania, However, further studies covering longer periods and deeper analysis are needed for developing an epidemiological mathematical model, as a tool to develop and implement specific strategies for monitoring future pandemics. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/18636AlbaniaCOVID-19healthcareinfectionspandemic
spellingShingle Elona Gaxhja
Gjergji Koja
Brunilda Elezi
Elvin Rada
Shkelqim Hidri
Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Albania
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Albania
COVID-19
healthcare
infections
pandemic
title Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Albania
title_full Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Albania
title_fullStr Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Albania
title_full_unstemmed Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Albania
title_short Demographic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Albania
title_sort demographic and epidemiological characteristics of covid 19 epidemic in albania
topic Albania
COVID-19
healthcare
infections
pandemic
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/18636
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AT gjergjikoja demographicandepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofcovid19epidemicinalbania
AT brunildaelezi demographicandepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofcovid19epidemicinalbania
AT elvinrada demographicandepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofcovid19epidemicinalbania
AT shkelqimhidri demographicandepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofcovid19epidemicinalbania