Mortality Differentiation by Causes of Death across Moscow Districts

BACKGROUND Mortality data on district level is rarely observed because of its unavailability or inconvenience to collect into datasets. Until recently, researchers in Russia mostly analyzed large administrative units, such as regions. The analysis of mortality data at the level of larger administrative regions, which has been accepted in Russia for decades, leads to a significant underestimation of the degree of inequality in mortality within the regions. While district-level mortality data can be used to monitor and address public health issues at the local level to ensure sustainable and equitable socio-economic progress. OBJECTIVE The mortality rate is used as a specific indicator of health care outcomes, people's wellbeing and longevity, thus it is important to measure outperforms in region. District-level research of mortality in Moscow can help to identify territories which experience higher mortality. METHODS Using all-cause mortality and population data for Moscow districts, by year (2014-2017), the cause-specific crude death rates were calculated and assessed, the results were presented on the heat maps and in tables. RESULTS Differences in the cause-specific mortality rates in Moscow districts are presented: minimums and maximums, variations, and standard deviations. On the annual mortality heat maps areas with high mortality values were marked mainly the districts of Zelenogradskiy okrug and TiNAO. Based on the results of the analysis for the period 2014-2017, next districts showed high cause-specific mortality rates: Staroe Kryukovo, Matushkino, Savelki, Silino districts of Zelenogradskiy okrug (ZelAO); Severnoe Izmaylovo, Veshnyaki, Nizhegorodskiy and Ivanovskoe districts of Vostochniy okrug (VAO), Golovinskiy and Voykovskiy districts of Severniy okrug (SAO), Kon'kovo district of Yugo-Zapadniy okrug (UZAO). This paper also reviews age structure of population across Moscow districts and trends of mortality by causes-of-death in Moscow. CONCLUSION As a result of the analysis, in 2014-2017, high mortality was observed mainly in districts on the outskirts of Moscow, not in the center. The connection between the quality of life and the mortality rate was mentioned in the literature review. Lower population incomes, quality of nutrition, economic development may influence the death rates in Zelenogradskiy okrug, Vostochniy okrug, and New Moscow (TiNAO). The aim to smooth out differences in spatial mortality of Moscow requires further investigation of recent trends in mortality and the related socio-economical aspects. CONTRIBUTION The study demonstrates the districts of Moscow that had a high mortality rate in the period of 2014-2017. It is quite possible that even today there is an increased mortality rate in the same districts. The practical significance of the research could be in demand among the scientific community and the social policy developers to achieve more smoothed-out death rates in Moscow districts.