Premature mortality from injuries in regions of Kazakhstan

Introduction. Many countries, including Kazakhstan, aim to achieve universal health coverage and reduce health disparities, focusing on promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing injuries, and ensuring sustainable healthcare financing. This study seeks to analyze regional differences in premature mortality from injuries across six regions of Kazakhstan to better understand the impact of injuries, which remain a leading cause of death despite a slight decrease in overall injury-related fatalities.

Materials and methods. We calculated premature mortality rates (PMR) for individuals under 75 years of age using data from the National Scientific Center for Health Development, covering 2014 to 2021, and categorized by sex and aligned with ICD-10 focusing on accidents and injuries. Absolute and relative changes in PMR were computed to assess both the overall change in mortality rates and the rate of change over the defined period.

Results and discussion. North Kazakhstan experienced the highest premature mortality rates, rising from 148.15 in 2014 to 188.80 in 2021, while Atyrau had the lowest, with fluctuations from 69.54 in 2014 to 111.17 in 2021. East Kazakhstan recorded the highest relative change in mortality (63.3%), with males at 62.5% and females at 63.4%, while Atyrau showed a notable male increase of 74.6% but a smaller female increase of 23.5%, resulting in a combined total of 59.9%. In terms of total absolute changes, East Kazakhstan led with 83.76, followed by Akmola at 55.22 and West Kazakhstan at 53.96, while Zhambyl had the lowest at 26.26.

Conclusion. The data highlights significant regional and gender disparities in premature mortality in Kazakhstan, emphasizing the need for targeted healthcare interventions and policies that address these specific differences.

1. Kieny M.P., Bekedam H., Dovlo D., Fitzgerald J., Habicht J., Harrison G., Kluge H., Lin V., Menabde N., Mirza Z., Siddiqi S., Travis P. Strengthening health systems for universal health coverage and sustainable development. Bulletin of the World Health Organization . 2017; 95 (7): 537-539. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.187476

2. Royston G., Pakenham-Walsh N., Zielinski C. Universal access to essential health information: accelerating progress towards universal health coverage and other SDG health targets. BMJ Glob Health. 2020; 5 (5): e002475. https://doi.org/1136/ bmjgh-2020-002475

3. Ranabhat C.L, Acharya S.P, Adhikari C, Kim C.B. Universal health coverage evolution, ongoing trend, and future challenge: A conceptual and historical policy review. Front Public Health. 2023; 11: 1041459. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1041459

4. Hajjar K., Lillo L., Martinez D.A., Hermosilla M., Risko N. Association between universal health coverage and the disease burden of acute illness and injury at the global level. BMC Public Health. 2023; 23 (1): 735. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15671-2

5. James S.L., Castle C.D., Dingels Z.V., Fox J.T., Hamilton E.B., Liu Z., Roberts N.L.S., Sylte D.O., Bertolacci G.J., Cunningham M., Henry N.J., LeGrand K.E., Abdelalim A., Abdollahpour I., Abdulkader R.S., Abedi A., Abegaz K.H., Abosetugn A.E., Abushouk A.I., Adebayo O. M., Vos T. Estimating global injuries morbidity and mortality: methods and data used in the Global Burden of Disease 2017 study. Injury prevention. 2020; 26 (1): i125-i153. https://doi.org/10.1136/ injuryprev-2019-043531

6. Alberdi F., García I., Atutxa L., Zabarte M.; Trauma and Neurointensive Care Work Group of the SEMICYUC. Epidemiology of severe trauma. Med. Intensiva. 2014; 38 (9): 580-588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medin.2014.06.012

7. Wang L.J, Ning P.S, Yin P, Cheng P.X, Schwebel D.C, Liu J.M, et al. Road traffic mortality in China: analysis of national surveillance data from 2006 to 2016. Lancet Public Health. 2019; 4: e245255. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(19)30057-X

8. Alibudbud R. Suicide among the youth and school-based suicide prevention: Exemplar and reflections from the Philippines. Asian J. Psychiatr. 2023; 83: 103538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. ajp.2023.103538

9. Chen F.N, Yang Y, Liu G.Y. Social change and socioeconomic disparities in health over the life course in China: a cohort analysis. Am. Sociol. Rev. 2010; 75: 126-150. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122409359165

10. Kang D.H, Marques A.H, Yang J.H, et al. Suicide prevention strategies in South Korea: What we have learned and the way forward. Asian J. Psychiatr. 2025; 104: 104359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104359

11. García M.C., Rossen L.M., Matthews K., Guy G., Trivers K.F., Thomas C.C., Schieb L., Iademarco M.F.; Preventable Premature Deaths from the Five Leading Causes of Death in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Counties, United States, 20102022. Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries. 2024; 73 (2): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7302a1

12. Kosherbayeva L., Akhtayeva N., Tolganbayeva K., Samambayeva A. Trends in Avoidable Mortality in Kazakhstan From 2015 to 2021. International journal of health policy and management . 2024; 13: 7919. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2024.7919

13. Igissinov N., Aubakirova A., Orazova G., et al. Prediction Mortality Rate Due to the Road-Traffic Accidents in Kazakhstan. Iran J. Public Health. 2020; 49 (1): 68-76.

14. Pliska N. Epidemiology of traumatic injuries and associated infectious complications in the Republic of Kazakhstan . J. Med. Life. 2022; 15 (4): 509-514. https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2021-0377

15. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. US Census Bureau American Community Survey. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 20162020 . https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx

16. Stevens J.A, Lee R. The potential to reduce falls and avert costs by clinically managing fall risk. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2018; 55: 290-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.04.035

17. Bhalla K., Harrison J., Shahraz S., Abraham J., Bartels D., Yeh P.-H., et al. Burden of road injuries in Sub-Saharan Africa . 2014; 6 (2): 103. http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/356861434469785833/Road-Safety-Burden-of-Injuries-in-Africa.pdf.

18. Matzopoulos R., Prinsloo M., Pillay-Van Wyk V., Gwebushe N., Mathews S., Martin L.J., et al. Injury-related mortality in south africa: A retrospective descriptive study of postmortem investigations. Bull World Health Organ . 2015; 93 (5): 303-313. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.14.145771

19. CDC. WISQARS fatal injury data visualization . https://wisqars.cdc.gov/data/lcd/home

20. Jang H., Lee W., Kim Y.O, Kim H. Suicide rate and social environment characteristics in South Korea: the roles of socioeconomic, demographic, urbanicity, general health behaviors, and other environmental factors on suicide rate. BMC Public Health. 2022; 22 (1): 410. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889022-12843-4

21. Altangerel P., Damdinbazar O., Borgilchuluun U., Batbayar D., Erdenebat B., Purevdorj T., Yundendorj G. An Exploration of Productivity Costs and Years of Potential Life Lost: Understanding the Impact of Premature Mortality From Injury in Mongolia. Health services insights. 2023; 16: https://doi.org/10.1177/11786329231212295

22. Fernandes N.M., Mendonça M.D.L.L., Gomez L.F. The burden of mortality due to injury in Cabo Verde, 2018. PLoS One. 2023; 18 (3): e0278589. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278589