BMJ  2003;327 (25 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7421.0-b

Russian mortality has increased dramatically since 1991

Mortality among young and middle aged Russian adults is known to have increased sharply after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, although it is thought to have improved in the mid-1990s. Men and colleagues (p 964) analysed data from Russia's state statistics committee and found that mortality actually increased further since the economic crisis in 1998. This was due to a rise in cardiovascular mortality, violent death, and excessive alcohol consumption, resulting in an unexpected extra 2.5-3 million deaths in this age group since 1991. The authors conclude that although lifestyle factors are strongly implicated in the risk of death at an individual level, underlying economic and societal factors are important determinants at the macro level.

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Russian mortality trends for 1991-2001: analysis by cause and region

Tamara Men, Paul Brennan, Paolo Boffetta, and David Zaridze
BMJ 2003 327: 964. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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