Morbidity rates dynamics among the military women of the Russian Ministry of Defense (2012 to 2021)

Relevance. Extreme military service conditions can reduce functional reserves of the military, provoking early development of occupational disorders.

The objective is to study morbidity rates dynamics for the last decade (2012–2021) and evaluate the epidemiological significance of different disease chapters among military women to improve their health status.

Methods. The study focused on women serving in the Russian military forces with the aim to analyze their morbidity rates over a decade (2012–2021), as presented in the medical report database (3/MED form) and available publications. Medical and statistical codes for main disease chapters are indicated according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Related Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10). Morbidity was calculated per 1,000 military women or in ppm (‰), while mortality was calculated per 100,000 persons or 10–5. The average annual indicators calculated based on absolute data, arithmetic averages, errors (M ± m) are provided in study as well. Trends were assessed using dynamic time serie analysis and a second-order polynomial trend.

Results and discussion. The long-term average incidence (total morbidity) was 1653.1 ‰, with primary morbidity – 770.6 ‰, regular follow-up – 186.3 ‰, hospitalization – 347.2 ‰, cases requiring a sick leave due to disability – 898.9 ‰, days of disability-related absence from work – 6964 ‰, dismissal rate – 5.11 ‰, mortality rate – 59.2 ∙ 10–5. Polynomial trends in morbidity tracking indicated decreasing trends, with varying significance of determination coefficients. In terms of their social and epidemiological significance, 8 disease chapters (listed in order of severity according to ICD-10) were the major contributors to the military women morbidity: diseases of the respiratory systems (Chapter X), neoplasms (Chapter II), diseases of the circulatory system (Chapter IX), diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (Chapter XIII), diseases of the genitourinary system (Chapter XIV), endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (Chapter IV), injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (Chapter XIX), diseases of the digestive system (Chapter XI).

Conclusion. The diseases presented in the above 8 chapters of the ICD-10 were responsible for 87.8 % of socially and epidemiologically significant morbidities. Thus, timely diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention are required to remarkably improve the health status in military women.

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