Geographic Medical Overview of Noncommunicable Diseases (Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes) in the Territory of the AP Vojvodina (Northern Serbia)

Abstract

The objective of this study was a geographic medical analysis of noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases from 2010 to 2020 and diabetes from 2010 to 2019) in the AP Vojvodina (northern Serbia) in order to identify the most and least burdened counties as well as to present trends in the mentioned diseases. The Mann-Kendall trend test, a cluster analysis, and Getis–Ord Gi* method for hot spot analysis were applied in this analysis. Regarding acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction, the North Backa County had a lower mortality rate although the number of newly reported cases was above average. The largest number of new cases of unstable angina pectoris was in the North Backa, North Banat, and Middle Banat Counties, while the West Backa County was identified as a county with a higher mortality rate. The cluster analysis showed that the number of death cases from diabetes in the Srem County is significantly higher than that in the other counties. Likewise, the West Backa County had a high number of new diabetes patients, but also a much lower mortality rate. Chronic noncommunicable diseases are predominant in newly diagnosed incidences and death cases in the AP Vojvodina. Studies of this kind promote public health and healthcare systems in the researched area and in the Republic of Serbia, as well as in other countries.