Mortality from the main causes among Kaunas (Lithuania) population aged 25-84 years during 1995-1999

Abstract

Introduction: Over the past 10 years mortality rates from the main causes of death decreased substantially in the most Western European countries, while in many Eastern European countries an increasing trend was observed. The aim of this study was to determine mortality rates and trends among the Kaunas population aged 25-84 years during 1995-1999. Methods: The official mortality statistics data for 1995-1999 were used for the analysis. All mortality rates were age-standardized using European Standard population as the standard. The trends were estimated from the logarithms of the annual age-standardized rates using an ordinary linear regression. Results: Overall mortality in 1999 among Kaunas population aged 25-84 years decreased by 26.2% compared to 1995 year and during 1995-1999 significantly decreased by 6.35%/yr., (p=0.03). In 1995 standardized overall mortality rate was 1692.5/100,000, whereas in 1999 was 1249.6/100,000 population. The rates of mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD), mortality from malignant neoplasms (MN) and mortality from external causes (EC) tended to decrease too and average annual changes accounted respectively Conclusion: In Kaunas population aged 25-84 years overall mortality and mortality from EC during last 5 year significantly decreased, but mortality from CVD and MN tended to decrease. During 1995-1999, mortality rates from all causes, CVD and MN in youngest age groups were without significant changes, but in oldest age groups these trends were decreasing. Mortality from EC decreased only in young age groups.