ANALYSIS OF ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN AIR POLLUTION AND MORTALITY FROM NONCOMMUNICABLE DISEASES ACROSS GENDERS AND AGE-GROUPS

Abstract

Introduction: Identification of the groups of patients that are the most vulnerable to the effects of ambient air pollution is required for the development of public health measures to promote health and prevent diseases in cities with a high level of atmospheric air pollution with the further going aim to reduce mortality and increase life expectancy of the population Aim: To analyze associations between air pollution and mortality from the most common non-communicable diseases stratified across genders and age-groups. Methods: To assess the isolated effect of ambient air pollution on the mortality rate, we selected 4 pairs of cities with similar climatic and socio-economic condition, but with high vs. low levels of air pollution. There pairs were: Bratsk - Kirov; Chita - Tomsk; Nizhny Tagil - Kirov; Magnitogorsk - Orenburg. Differences in mortality rates from major non-communicable diseases between the cities were analyzed using stratification by gender and age. Results: Cardiovascular mortality in cities with high levels of air pollution significantly exceeded mortality in cities with low pollution in all age groups. The differences in mortality from respiratory causes and neoplasms was less pronounced. Conclusion: The results suggest that high levels of air pollution may be associated with greater cardiovascular mortality in all age- groups. Closer monitoring of cardiovascular health of residents of polluted cities is warranted.