Comparative Analysis of the Morbidity of Respiratory Infections in the Arctic Zone and other Territories of Russia

Relevance. The Arctic Zone is a territory with very specific characteristics among the following: extreme climatic conditions, low population density, remoteness from industrial centers, and dependence even on insignificant anthropogenic impact. The concentration of natural resources and the focal development of territories leads to an increase of migratory flows. All of these factors influence the morbidity of the population. Aims. The aim of this study was to reveal the difference in the intensity of morbidity in the Arctic zone in comparison with other territories. Materials & Methods. We conducted a comparative retrospective analysis of the incidence of influenza, ARVI, community-acquired pneumonia, pertussis, and meningococcal infection in adults in the Arctic zone of Russia for the period of 2007–2018. Also, we conducted a correlation analysis using the Pearson method. We performed data processing in Microsoft Excel 2019. Results: In the retrospective analysis, the incidence rates ARVI and influenza are significantly higher in the Arctic zone in comparison with other territories. The incidence rate of influenza in the Arctic is comparable with other regions but complications arise more frequently. As much as influenza, ARVI may be more severe. The incidence rates of pertussis and meningococcal infection do not show any significant deviations from the rates in other regions. Conclusion: Thus, higher incidence rates ARVI and influenza were registered in the Arctic. Influenza and ARVI may be more severe.

epidemiology, influenza, ARVI, pneumonia, pertussis, meningococcal infection, Arctic, incidence, morbidity

1. Zaykov KS, Kalinina MR, Kondratov NA, et al. Strategic research priorities of Russia and foreign countries in the Arctic Region. Arctic: Ecology and Economy. 2016;3(23):29–37 (In Russ).

2. «Osnovy gosudarstvennoy politiki Rossiyskoy federacii v Arktike na period do 2020 goda i dalneyshuu perspektivu» of 18 September 2008. Available at: http://static.government.ru/media/files/A4qP6brLNJ175I40U0K46x4SsKRHGfUO.pdf. Accessed: 18 July 2020 (In Russ).

3. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation № 296 of 2 May 2014 (edition of 5 March 2020). «O suhoputnyh territoriyah Arkticheskoy zony Rossiyskoy Federacii ». Available at: http://static.kremlin.ru/media/acts/files/0001201405050030.pdf. Accessed: 18 July 2020 (In Russ).

4. Shaparov AE. Migracionnye processy v regionah Arkticheskoy zony Rossiyskoy Federacii. In: «Rossiya: tendencii i perspektivy razvitiya» XVIII Mezhdunarodnaya nauchnaya konferenciya «Modernizaciya Rossii: prioritety, problemy, resheniya» i drugie meropriyatiya, provedennye v ramkah obshchestvenno-nauchnogo foruma «Rossiya: klyuchevye problemy i resheniya»; 20–21 Dec 2018. Moscow; 2019. Available at: http://inion.ru/site/assets/files/3914/2019_e_rossiia_tendentcii_i_perspektivy_razvitiia_14_1.pdf. Accessed: 18 July 2020 (In Russ).

5. Belisheva NK, Talykova LV, Melnik NA. The contribution of high-altitude geliogeophysical agents in the picture of case rate of the population in Murmansk oblast. Izvestia of Samara Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2011;13(1):1831–1836 (In Russ).

6. Tereshchenko PS, Petrov VN. Probable cause of morbidity of the population in the areas of the Arctic. Transactions of the Kola Science Center of the RAS. 2018;9(2-13):145–150 (In Russ). doi: 10.25702/KSC.2307-5252.2018.9.2.145-150

7. Petrov VN. Features of influence of oxygen’ partial density gradient in the air on the health status of populations living in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. Herald of the Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2015;3:82–92. (In Russ).

8. Baturin AK, Sorokinа EYu, Pogozheva AV, et al. The association of genetic polymorphisms with non-communicable disease among Arctic population. Problems of nutrition. 2016;85(5):5–12 (In Russ).

9. Krivoshchekov SG. Trud i zdorov`e cheloveka v Arktike. Vestnik of Northern (Arctic) Federal University. Series «Medical and Biological Sciences». 2016;4:84–89 (In Russ).

10. Belisheva NK, Petrov VN. The Murmansk region’s population health when implementing the strategy of the development of the Russian Federation’s Arctic Zone. Transactions of the Kola Science Center of the RAS. 2013;19(6-4):152–173 (In Russ).

11. Nikitin YuP, Khasnulin VI, Gudkov AB. Contemporary problems of northern medicine and researchers’ efforts to solve them. Vestnik of Northern (Arctic) Federal University. Series «Medical and Biological Sciences». 2014;3:63–72 (In Russ).