Environmental and Lifestyle Factors in the Onset of Pancreatic Cancer: A 10-Year Study from Kosovo as a Transitioning Country in Southeast Europe
Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide, with increasing incidence and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates the role of environmental and lifestyle factors in the development of pancreatic cancer in Kosovo, a transi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
International Medical Research and Development Corporation
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Biomedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijbm.org/articles/i58/ijbm_15(2)_oa10.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849470783021121536 |
|---|---|
| author | Kreshnike Dedushi Hoti Jeton Shatri Flaka Pasha Masum Rahman Jona Kosova Leotrim Berisha Mirlinda Berisha Arruj Hassan Abu Bakar Siddik |
| author_facet | Kreshnike Dedushi Hoti Jeton Shatri Flaka Pasha Masum Rahman Jona Kosova Leotrim Berisha Mirlinda Berisha Arruj Hassan Abu Bakar Siddik |
| author_sort | Kreshnike Dedushi Hoti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide, with increasing incidence and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates the role of environmental and lifestyle factors in the development of pancreatic cancer in Kosovo, a transitioning country in Southeast Europe.
Methods and Results: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 519 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, from 2012 to 2022. Demographic, clinical, and environmental exposure data were collected, including air pollutant levels from national monitoring agencies. The study revealed a 200% increase in cases over ten years, with the highest burden among males (63%) and those aged 60–69. Urban centers, especially Prishtina, reported the highest incidence. Concurrently, levels of fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) rose by 35%, 19%, and 22%, respectively. Modifiable risk factors, such as smoking (35.5%), type 2 diabetes (35.5%), and alcohol use (8.5%), were prevalent.
Conclusions: There is a strong association between increased pancreatic cancer incidence and long-term exposure to air pollution in Kosovo. Environmental pollutants, compounded by modifiable lifestyle factors, may be critical in disease onset, warranting urgent public health interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9da06e6dfa0c46e7a823d8035f0d257a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2158-0510 2158-0529 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | International Medical Research and Development Corporation |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Biomedicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-9da06e6dfa0c46e7a823d8035f0d257a2025-08-20T03:25:03ZengInternational Medical Research and Development CorporationInternational Journal of Biomedicine2158-05102158-05292025-06-0115233333710.21103/Article15(2)_OA10Environmental and Lifestyle Factors in the Onset of Pancreatic Cancer: A 10-Year Study from Kosovo as a Transitioning Country in Southeast EuropeKreshnike Dedushi Hoti0Jeton Shatri1Flaka Pasha2Masum Rahman3Jona Kosova4Leotrim Berisha5Mirlinda Berisha6Arruj Hassan7Abu Bakar Siddik8Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina,” Prishtina, Kosovo; Clinic of Radiology, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina,” Prishtina, Kosovo; Clinic of Radiology, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina,” Prishtina, Kosovo; Clinic of Radiology, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo General Surgery, Conemaugh Medical Center, Johnstown, PA, USAFaculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina,” Prishtina, KosovoClinic of Radiology, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo Faculty of Medicine, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina,” Prishtina, KosovoGeneral Surgery, Conemaugh Medical Center, Johnstown, PA, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USABackground: Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide, with increasing incidence and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates the role of environmental and lifestyle factors in the development of pancreatic cancer in Kosovo, a transitioning country in Southeast Europe. Methods and Results: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 519 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, from 2012 to 2022. Demographic, clinical, and environmental exposure data were collected, including air pollutant levels from national monitoring agencies. The study revealed a 200% increase in cases over ten years, with the highest burden among males (63%) and those aged 60–69. Urban centers, especially Prishtina, reported the highest incidence. Concurrently, levels of fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) rose by 35%, 19%, and 22%, respectively. Modifiable risk factors, such as smoking (35.5%), type 2 diabetes (35.5%), and alcohol use (8.5%), were prevalent. Conclusions: There is a strong association between increased pancreatic cancer incidence and long-term exposure to air pollution in Kosovo. Environmental pollutants, compounded by modifiable lifestyle factors, may be critical in disease onset, warranting urgent public health interventions.http://www.ijbm.org/articles/i58/ijbm_15(2)_oa10.pdfpancreatic cancerenvironmental risk factorscancer incidencedeveloping countries |
| spellingShingle | Kreshnike Dedushi Hoti Jeton Shatri Flaka Pasha Masum Rahman Jona Kosova Leotrim Berisha Mirlinda Berisha Arruj Hassan Abu Bakar Siddik Environmental and Lifestyle Factors in the Onset of Pancreatic Cancer: A 10-Year Study from Kosovo as a Transitioning Country in Southeast Europe International Journal of Biomedicine pancreatic cancer environmental risk factors cancer incidence developing countries |
| title | Environmental and Lifestyle Factors in the Onset of Pancreatic Cancer: A 10-Year Study from Kosovo as a Transitioning Country in Southeast Europe |
| title_full | Environmental and Lifestyle Factors in the Onset of Pancreatic Cancer: A 10-Year Study from Kosovo as a Transitioning Country in Southeast Europe |
| title_fullStr | Environmental and Lifestyle Factors in the Onset of Pancreatic Cancer: A 10-Year Study from Kosovo as a Transitioning Country in Southeast Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental and Lifestyle Factors in the Onset of Pancreatic Cancer: A 10-Year Study from Kosovo as a Transitioning Country in Southeast Europe |
| title_short | Environmental and Lifestyle Factors in the Onset of Pancreatic Cancer: A 10-Year Study from Kosovo as a Transitioning Country in Southeast Europe |
| title_sort | environmental and lifestyle factors in the onset of pancreatic cancer a 10 year study from kosovo as a transitioning country in southeast europe |
| topic | pancreatic cancer environmental risk factors cancer incidence developing countries |
| url | http://www.ijbm.org/articles/i58/ijbm_15(2)_oa10.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kreshnikededushihoti environmentalandlifestylefactorsintheonsetofpancreaticcancera10yearstudyfromkosovoasatransitioningcountryinsoutheasteurope AT jetonshatri environmentalandlifestylefactorsintheonsetofpancreaticcancera10yearstudyfromkosovoasatransitioningcountryinsoutheasteurope AT flakapasha environmentalandlifestylefactorsintheonsetofpancreaticcancera10yearstudyfromkosovoasatransitioningcountryinsoutheasteurope AT masumrahman environmentalandlifestylefactorsintheonsetofpancreaticcancera10yearstudyfromkosovoasatransitioningcountryinsoutheasteurope AT jonakosova environmentalandlifestylefactorsintheonsetofpancreaticcancera10yearstudyfromkosovoasatransitioningcountryinsoutheasteurope AT leotrimberisha environmentalandlifestylefactorsintheonsetofpancreaticcancera10yearstudyfromkosovoasatransitioningcountryinsoutheasteurope AT mirlindaberisha environmentalandlifestylefactorsintheonsetofpancreaticcancera10yearstudyfromkosovoasatransitioningcountryinsoutheasteurope AT arrujhassan environmentalandlifestylefactorsintheonsetofpancreaticcancera10yearstudyfromkosovoasatransitioningcountryinsoutheasteurope AT abubakarsiddik environmentalandlifestylefactorsintheonsetofpancreaticcancera10yearstudyfromkosovoasatransitioningcountryinsoutheasteurope |