Differently from other research topics of the IPCDR project, “The Best Use of Existing Data” does not include any field work and does not create any new data. We are trying to get use of already existing data on mortality, population health, and factors of population health in the Russian Federation. This work pertains three types of data: 1) routine statistical data on mortality by sex, age, causes of death, and regions of the country; 2) more detailed data on deaths and their medical causes; 3) micro-data of health surveys. This way, our research assists other themes of the IPCDR by providing them with necessary data. We also conduct our own scientific analyses of the data that we are collecting.
The population mortality data helps to identify quality problems and data biases, which may influence substantive results of epidemiological and demographic studies on Russia. We have found certain inconsistencies in registration of some causes of death across regions. This pertains several cardiovascular diagnoses. Another data quality challenge is related to growing understatement of mortality at old and very old ages in large urban centers.
Population Mortality Data
The population mortality data also allows to examine health differences and health trends across regions. Important information can be obtained from comparisons of mortality patterns with neighboring countries that share the same legacy of the communist regime and hardships of the transition to a market economy.
The detailed data on deaths is helpful for an in-depth analysis of diagnostic patterns and coding practices for different groups of causes of death and for the cardiovascular conditions in particular. Such data highlights typical combinations of medical conditions as well as their correspondence with presence of alcohol and alcohol-related pathologies. This provides a good opportunity for collaboration with colleagues working on the topic “Cause of Death” .
Survey Data
Finally, survey data plays a central part in assessment of prevalence of risk factors and their links with hazard of death and disease. This data helps us to find out whether risk profiles among Russians substantially differ from the ones existing elsewhere. In this regard a crucial question is whether the outstandingly high Russian mortality from CVD and other causes may be explained by very peculiar behavioral and bio-medical factors or Russians are exposed to similar risks and the mortality excess is attributable to contextual (social and medical care) conditions. So far, we have conducted studies on prevalence of smoking and on principal biomarker patterns using data of more than 20 surveys. Regarding the medical care, we have completed (in collaboration with the colleagues working on “The Russian Healthcare System” study) a study on the travel-time accessibility of percutaneous coronary intervention facilities across Russia.
Cardiovascular Mortality
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