Huge variation in Russian mortality rates 1984-94: Artefact, alcohol, or what?

被引:559
作者
Leon, DA
Chenet, L
Shkolnikov, VM
Zakharov, S
Shapiro, J
Rakhmanova, G
Vassin, S
McKee, M
机构
[1] CTR DEMOG & HUMAN ECOL, MOSCOW, RUSSIA
[2] UNIV LONDON GOLDSMITHS COLL, LONDON SE14 6NW, ENGLAND
关键词
D O I
10.1016/S0140-6736(97)03360-6
中图分类号
R5 [内科学];
学科分类号
1002 ; 100201 ;
摘要
Background According to published data, between 1984 and 1994 mortality rates in Russia initially underwent a rapid decline followed by an even steeper increase. In 1994, male life expectancy at birth was 57.6 years, having fallen by 6.2 years since 1990, There has been concern that such striking fluctuations in mortality are an artefact, although, among other factors, alcohol consumption has been implicated. Methods We analysed the age-specific and cause-specific patterns of mortality decrease and increase by use of data from a newly reconstructed mortality series for Russia so that we could examine the plausibility of various ex planations for the mortality trends. Findings All major causes of death, with the exception of neoplasms, showed declines in mortality between 1984 and 1987 and increases between 1987 and 1994, In relative terms, these tended to be largest for the age-group 40-50 years; surprisingly, they were of the same magnitude among women and men, The largest declines and subsequent increases in proportional terms were observed for alcohol-related deaths and accidents and violence. However, pronounced effects were also seen for deaths from infections, circulatory disease, and respiratory disease. No substantial variations were seen for neoplasms. Interpretation The stability of mortality from neoplasms in contrast to other causes over the period 1984-94 largely precludes the possibility that the changes in life expectancy are mainly an artefact, particularly one due to underestimation of the population. Although factors such as nutrition and health services may be involved, the evidence is that substantial changes in alcohol consumption over the period could plausibly explain the main features of the mortality fluctuations observed, These results provide a major challenge to public health in Russia and to our understanding of the determinants of alcohol consumption and its role in explaining mortality patterns within and between many other countries.
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页码:383 / 388
页数:6
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