title: [Mortality trends in Russia].
abstract: Mortality statistics were sparse during the last two decades of the Soviet Union. Official spokesmen claimed that life expectancy increased after the Second World War, but reconstruction of mortality data after the downfall of the union revealed that mortality rates during the 1980s were far higher than in Western countries. During the 1990s, Russia has experienced a dramatic increase in mortality rates particularly in men aged 20-64 years. The major cause for this increase is the steep upturn of cardiovascular deaths which has been associated with high prevalence of smoking as well as high-fat diet. The increasing consumption of alcohol and the Russian habit of binge drinking is thought to be directly associated with an increased mortality of cardiovascular diseases. This is reflected in the excess number of cardiovascular deaths during weekends compared to weekdays.
authors.affiliation: Seksjon for epidemiologisk forskning, samfunnsmedisinske fag, Universitetet i Oslo.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Thelle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors