MEDICAL AND STATISTICAL INDICATORS OF MORTALITY IN EMPLOYEES OF RUSSIAN STATE FIRE SERVICE (1996–2015)

Abstract

Relevance. Russia has high mortality rates in general and among the working-age population, with dominating effects of external causes.Intention– To study rates and structures of the medical-statistical indicators of mortality due to diseases and the effects of external causes in the employees of the State Fire Service of the EMERCOM of Russia over 20 years from 1996 to 2015.Methods.Annual population under study averaged (108.8 ± 6.2) thousand people, or about 80% of all the employees of the State Fire Service of Russia who had special military ranks. Operating staff comprised 53.4%, other employees – 46.6%. Mortality rates were calculated per 100 thousand employees of the State Fire Service of Russia. Data on the mortality of working-age men in Russia was obtained on the website of the Federal Statistics Service of Russia (Rosstat) [http://www.gks.ru/]. The unification of accounting and analysis of indicators was achieved using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, the 10th revision (ICD-10). Results and Discussion. Mortality rate among employees of the State Fire Service of the EMERCOM of Russia in 1996–2015 was (116.9 ± 5.7) deaths per 100 thousand employees per year vs 11 times higher mortality rate among the working-age male population of Russia: (1063.9 ± 33.7) deaths per 100 thousand men (p < 0.001). The mean age of the deceased employees of the State Fire Service of Russia was (44.5 ± 0.3) years, with overall mean age (36.9 ± 1.6) years (p < 0.001). The leading causes of death among employees of the State Fire Service of Russia (from more to less significant) were injuries and other effects of external causes (ICD-10 chapter XIX), diseases of the circulatory system (chapter IX) and neoplasms (II), diseases of the digestive system (XI) and diseases of the respiratory system (X). Mortality rates from these causes per 100 thousand employees per year amounted to (63.3 ± 33.7), (32.6 ± 2.7), (7.1 ± 0.6), (5.3 ± 1.0) and (5.0 ± 0.9) deaths; in cause-of-death structure – 54.2, 27.9, 6.0, 4.5 and 4.3%, respectively. The mortality rate from suicide among working-age Russian men was 6.4 times higher than that of firefighters – (66.0 ± 4.1) and (10.3 ± 1.1) deaths per 100 thousand men, respectively. However, in the overall cause-of-death structure, this cause accounted for a larger share in employ ees of the Russian State Fire Service (6.2 vs 8.8%). Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was found when comparing occupational fatalities among the operating personnel of the State Fire Service of Russia and working population in Russia: (14.9 ±1.4) deaths per 100 thousand employees per year vs (11.6 ± 0.7) deaths per 100 thousand workers per year. Mortality rates of firefighters were calculated in the Federal districts and regions of Russia. For a number of causes of death in firefighters, there is a significant contribution of occupational factors, which require further research.Conclusion.There is a low alertness for identifying neoplasms and crisis conditions in firefighters. Focusing on the leading diseases, behavioral disorders, prevention of injuries, poisoning and other effects of external causes will improve health and reduce mortality of employees of the State Fire Service of Russia.Authors declare the absence of existing and potential conflicts of interest concerning the article publication.