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Incidence of cystic fibrosis in the Albanian population
Author(s) -
Festini Filippo,
Taccetti Giovanni,
Repetto Teresa,
Mannini Claudia,
Neri Stella,
Bisogni Sofia,
de Martino Maurizio
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.20920
Subject(s) - incidence (geometry) , medicine , cystic fibrosis , population , demography , pediatrics , epidemiology , newborn screening , ethnic group , disease , environmental health , physics , sociology , anthropology , optics
Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life‐threatening genetic disease in the Western world. Its incidence varies between 1:4,000 and 1:2,500 among Europeans. No data are available on the incidence of CF among Albanians, mainly due to difficulties of the local health system. Goals To estimate the incidence of CF and the prevalence of healthy carrier status among Albanian ethnic people; to evaluate the incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns. Methods We used the database of the newborn screening of Tuscany, Italy for the period 1991–2005. Children born to both Albanian parents in Tuscany were identified and incidences were calculated. Results The incidence of CF among Albanians (1/555, 99% CI: 1/2,980–1/306) was significantly higher than the rest of the Tuscan population (1/4,101, 99% CI: 1/5,564–1/3,248). The prevalence of CF carrier status among Albanians living in Tuscany is estimated to be 1/12 (99%CI 1/27–1/9) while in the rest of the Tuscan population it is 1/32 (99%CI 1/37–1/28). The incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns (1/55 99%CI: 1/74–1/44) was significantly higher than in the rest of the population (1/84, 99%CI 1/88–1/82). Conclusion The incidence of CF among Albanians is considerably higher than expected. Albanian people have a risk to give birth to children with CF higher than the rest of Europeans. The implementation of a newborn screening program in Albania, together with a CF follow up program is highly advisable. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1124–1129. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.