An investigation of the growing number of deaths of unidentified people in Russia.
BACKGROUND
We examined mortality among working-age Russian men whose identity could not be determined, focusing on where and how they died.


METHODS
Employing micro-data from deaths that occurred in Izhevsk (Ural region) between June 2004 and September 2005, we analysed the characteristics of decedent men aged 25-54 (n = 2158). Differences between completely identified (n = 1699) and unidentified deaths (n = 282) were compared via logistic regression. Data on all deaths in Russia in 2002 were used for supplemental comparisons.


RESULTS
We found that relative to identified men, unidentified men were at a higher risk of death from exposure to natural cold, violence, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, acute respiratory infections and poisonings. Our results also revealed that alcohol played an important role in the mortality of unidentified men. The places and causes of death among these unidentified men provide substantial evidence of their homelessness and social isolation.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in deaths among unidentified men of working-age indicates the emergence of a health threat associated with homelessness and social marginalization. This vulnerable group is exposed to different levels and causes of mortality compared with the larger population and represent a new challenge that requires serious and immediate scholarly attention and policy responses.
Andreev
Evgueni
E
Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Konrad Zuse Strasse 1, Rostock 18057, Germany.
Pridemore
William Alex
WA
Shkolnikov
Vladimir M
VM
Antonova
Olga I
OI
D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000639:trends; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012934:Social Isolation