Croatia Health Statistics

As we traveled to Plitvice Lakes, the Public Health students were informed of the health statistics of Croatia by our teacher. Croatia has a population of 4 ½ million people, with about a 50/50 ratio of men to women. The life expectancy is 75 years for Croatians. Women generally live longer than the men with an average of 79 years, while men live to about 72. The GDP spent on healthcare is 7% and the average income is $14,000.
The leading causes of death in Croatia are cardiovascular disease and cancers. The #1 killer of Croatians is also the #1 killer of Americans. Stroke affects 1 out of 3 Croatians. The leading types of cancers in Croatia are tracheal, lung, and bronchial cancers. The large prevalence of smoking contributes to these cancers, but also the exposure to dust from working in industrial settings (which is the #1 source of employment in Croatia). Colon/Rectal cancers are the next leading causes of death for Croats. This can be attributed to sedentary lifestyles and the gluten-sensitivity that is a genetic trait of the Croatians. The next leading cause of death is cirrhosis of the liver. Croats consume considerably more alcohol than Americans. Cancers appear again on the list for the 3rd time with stomach and breast cancers contributing to deaths in Croatia. The list rounds out with injuries that are either self-inflicted, brought on from the war, or external poisonings and hypertension. Hypertension affects 55% of the Croatian population.
These top ten leading causes of death demonstrate that the country is in the process of becoming a more developed and industrialized nation, experiencing higher rates of chronic diseases more than infectious diseases. -Rachel