Trends in oesophageal cancer mortality in Montenegro, 1990-2018.

BACKGROUND: Oesophageal cancer (OC) is a significant public health issue, despite the decreasing trends in OC mortality rates observed globally in the past decades. The objective of our study is to analyze the pattern of OC mortality in Montenegro between 1990 and 2018 and contribute to the development of a national long-term strategy for the prevention and control of this malignancy. METHODS: The data on OC death cases in Montenegro between 1990 and 2018 were collected. The mortality rates were standardized according to the World Standard Population. The Joinpoint, Linear and Poisson regressions were applied to analyze the OC mortality trend. RESULTS: Joinpoint regression analysis showed an increase in death rates for men and the overall level which were not statistically significant. However, the number of cases increases significantly with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) increase of 2.6% for the overall level [AAPC (95% CI)=2.6 (1.0-4.2); P = 0.002] at the expense of the increase in men, which on average was 2.6% annually [AAPC (95%CI) = 2.6 (1.2-4.1); P = 0.001]. The age groups 55-64 and 65-74 have the highest percentage of deaths cases from OC with 30.6% and 31.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Montenegro has witnessed a recent increase in the number of deaths from OC, although the mortality rates remain stable. National strategies to further reduce mortality rates for OC are necessary. Individuals aged 55-64 and 65-74 need specific attention during the ongoing monitoring of this cancer.

Time trends in liver cancer mortality rates in Montenegro from 1990 to 2018.

OBJECTIVE: Liver cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatitis B and C infections are the main factors affecting mortality. During recent years, Montenegro conducted activities on eradication of viral hepatitis according to the global strategy for the primary prevention of liver cancer mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the liver cancer mortality trend in Montenegro for the period of 1990-2018 using regression techniques. METHODS: liver cancer mortality data in Montenegro from 1990 to 2018 were collected. Mortality rates were age standardized to the World Standard Population. The joinpoint, linear and Poisson regressions were used to assess liver cancer mortality trends both overall and gender specific. RESULTS: The mortality trend was constant, with no significant increase or decrease in mortality rates both at the overall level and by gender. The number of cases, however, increases significantly at the overall level by an average of 1.4% per year [average annual percentage change (AAPC) (95% confidence interval, CI): 1.4 (0.5-2.3); P  = 0.004] and in women by 1.9% per year [AAPC (95% CI): 1.9 (0.8-3.1); P  = 0.002]. In men, there was no change in the number of cases. The three age groups most burdened by mortality from liver cancer were 65-74 (34.9%), 75-84 (26.6%) and 55-64 (25.8%). CONCLUSION: The consistent implementation of prevention measures and hepatitis virus infection treatment has played a role in partially favorable liver cancer mortality trends in Montenegro. It is crucial to closely monitor guidelines for this cancer and give particular attention to the elderly population as the most affected.

Trends in gastric cancer mortality in Montenegro, 1990 - 2018: joinpoint regression.

Background Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global public health problem, despite the decreasing trends in GC mortality rates in the last five decades. Our study aimed to examine the pattern of GC mortality in Montenegro between 1990 and 2018 and to contribute to the future designing a national long-term strategy for the control and prevention of GC. Methods Gastric cancer mortality data in Montenegro from 1990 to 2018 were collected. Mortality rates were age-standardized to the World Standard Population for estimating both the overall and gender-specific trends. The joinpoint regression model was used to assess GC mortality and identified significant changes in the linear time trend. Linear and Poisson regressions were also applied for additional trend analyses. Results Joinpoint regression reveals a statistically significant decrease in the age-standardized rate for the overall level, on average by 1.4% per year (AAPC (95% IP)= -1.4 (-2.4)-(-0.4); P= 0.007), which was due to a decrease in the age-standardized rate in men with an average annual change of -1.8% (AAPC (95% IP)= -1.8 (-2.9)-(-0.6); P=0.003), while in women the rates were stable (p=0.565). The results for age groups indicate that a decline was registered at the overall level, and among men, as a consequence of the trend of decreasing age-specific rates for the age group 55-64 on average annually by 2% among men (AAPC (95% IP)= -2 ((-3.8)-(-0.1)); P=0.035), and for the overall level (AAPC (95% IP)= -2 ((-3.7)-(-0.3)); P=0.026). Conclusions Our findings indicate a noteworthy decline in age-standardized overall GC mortality rates among men in Montenegro, while rates for women have remained constant. National strategies to further reduce mortality rates for GC are necessary.

Prevalence of and contributing factors for overweight and obesity among Montenegrin schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Newly emerging Western style economic systems provide new opportunities to study the prevalence and predictors of childhood obesity. We also provide for the first time a national study of childhood obesity using all three international anthropometric criteria. METHODS: The sample included 4097 Montenegrin children, 2076 boys (50.7%) and 2021 girls. Anthropometric measurements were performed in school. The questionnaire for parents included questions on 24 potential contributing factors for childhood obesity. Nutritional status was assessed according to World Health Organization, US Center for Disease Prevention and Control and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria. RESULTS: Overall percentage of Montenegrin children who are overweight or obese (IOTF) is 22.9% of which 5.3% are obese (7.0% boys vs. 3.5% girls). We found 10 factors to be independently associated with child obesity. Positive relations [odds ratio (95% confidence interval)] were found with maternal obesity [2.05 (1.68-2.51)], paternal obesity [1.67 (1.32-2.10)], paternal employment [1.40 (1.12-1.74)], maternal smoking [1.32 (1.08-1.61)], obesity at birth [1.33 (1.04-1.70)] and computer game playing [per hour--1.11 (1.00-1.24)]. Negative relations were found with female gender [0.64 (0.53-0.78)], the number of siblings [0.88 (0.78-0.98)], birth order [0.73 (0.64-0.83)] and age [0.92 (0.88-0.98)]. CONCLUSION: One out of four Montenegrin children is overweight, with two times more frequent obesity among boys compared with girls. Some previously salient predictors did not appear salient in this sample. To enable worldwide comparability, we propose the use of all three childhood obesity criteria in national studies.