The role of statistical indicators in the study of public health

Abstract

Public health depends on the ecological state and socio-economic development of the territory, the age and gender structures of the population, the health status, natural, climatic and other factors. Absolute and relative statistical indicators are used to describe public health. The purpose of the study is to analyze the relative statistical indicators of public health of the population of Irkutsk region for the last years. The data of the Federal State Statistics Service for 2011-2021 were used as an information base for calculations. In the “precrisis” period, the mortality rate of the population in Irkutsk region was about 13.5%, which is slightly higher than the all-Russian indicator, but within the average level on the scale of the World Health Organization. The spread of COVID-19 increased the total mortality in 2021 to 17.7%. An increase in the mortality rate was 22.9% compared to 2010. The analysis of extensive indicators showed that in the structure of mortality of the population by the main classes of causes, the circulatory system diseases rank first, neoplasms rank second, and external causes rank third. During the pandemic, with the existing practice classifying the mortality causes the structure of mortality may be incorrect. Until the situation with COVID-19 becomes stable, it is advisable to focus both on relative and absolute indicators when studying demographic processes.