OBJECTIVE:

To assess the structure and dynamics of regional mortality in Russia associated with digestive system diseases (DSD) of different ICD classes, and their contribution to overall mortality from 2019 to 2021.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from Rosstat on the population size in 82 regions of Russia and the number of deaths in annual age groups according to the “Short Nomenclature of Causes of Death by Rosstat” (SNCD). All causes related to DSD were selected (a — Class XI of ICD-10; b — malignant neoplasms (MN); c — infectious diseases and d — congenital anomalies and malformations). Standardized mortality rates (SMR) were calculated using software.

RESULTS

The average regional SMR associated with diseases of the four DSD groups were 124.6±28.2 per 100.000 population in 2019, 128.13±28.4 in 2020, and 127.4±29.3 in 2021. The shares of SMR from Class XI DSD and MN DSD are comparable and collectively accounted for 98.6±1.4% in 2019, 98.6±1.5% in 2020, and 98.8±1% in 2021 of all DSD. The highest SMRs are recorded for liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, and MN of the stomach and intestines. The share of deaths from non-oncological diseases, potentially requiring surgical treatment, averages 12% (maximum 38%) of the SMR of the four DSD groups. Significant variability and diverse dynamics of regional SMR values for individual DSD causes were identified, which may be partly due to multimorbidity and different approaches to determining the primary cause of death.

CONCLUSIONS

An increase in the average regional SMR for the sum of the four DSD groups was noted over the three-year period. Mortality from the four DSD groups included in different ICD classes is twice as high as mortality from Class XI DSD. Methodological improvements in determining and coding causes of death from DSD are necessary.