Ethnic differences in all-cause mortality rates in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Objectives: This article explores mortality rates in Kazakhstan by ethnic group and some of the potential lifestyle factors that might help to explain the observed differences on a population level.

Study design: Repeated cross-sectional data analysis.

Methods: We calculated age-standardized mortality rates from all causes by ethnic group, gender and age for 2009-2012. We analysed data on self-reported alcohol and tobacco consumption and other lifestyle factors from the nationally representative 5th National Behavior Study, conducted in 2012.

Results: Age-standardized all-cause mortality rates are generally much higher among ethnic Russians than among ethnic Kazakhs, both among women and men and in rural as well as urban areas. These differences are most pronounced in the age group 20-59 years. Information on self-reported alcohol consumption and smoking by ethnic group, gender and age shows major differences between ethnic groups, with consistently higher rates of alcohol consumption and smoking among ethnic Russians, both in women and men and across all adult age groups.

Conclusions: Policies to improve the health of the population of Kazakhstan must take account of ethnic differences.

Keywords: Alcohol consumption; Ethnic groups; Kazakhstan; Mortality; Smoking.