Mortality analysis of the elderly population in Gomel city and Gomel district, Gomel region for period of 2012–2019

Objective. To conduct a system-structural analysis of the causes and indicators characterizing the dynamics of mortality among the elderly population of Gomel city and Gomel region. Materials and methods . The source of the research was the data of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus on the population in Gomel region, based on which the indicators of the dynamics and mortality of the elderly population (men over 60 years old, women over 55 years old) were calculated, its causes were identified using the International Classification of Diseases of the 10th revision (ICD-10). Statistical data processing was carried out by using SPSS v.20.0 (IBM, USA) and Excel, 2013 (Microsoft, USA). Results . For the period from 2012 to 2017 it was a steady growth of the population over the working age in Gomel city and Gomel district. However, it stopped after 2017, and this indicator remained almost at the same level up to and including 2019. The number of deaths among the elderly population had a weak increasing tendency (p=0.056), primarily due to such reasons as diseases of the cardiovascular system (26.88% in 2019), neoplasms and symptoms, signs and deviations from the norm identified in clinical and laboratory studies. Similar results were obtained when analyzing data in general for Gomel region. Conclusion . The systematic and structural analysis revealed an urgent need for development and implementation of comprehensive coordinated approaches to provision of primary medical and social care to the elderly people. This will be facilitated by a systematic and structural analysis of the causes and dynamics of mortality on a regular basis, the results of which can be used for developing measures aimed at improving quality of life and preventing premature mortality of the elderly people.