AGE ASPECTS OF THE DISEASE INCIDENCE RATE OF ADULT POPULATION
Due to dramatic deterioration of the demographic situation and sharp decrease in birth rate along with increased share of older ages in the population structure and increased morbidity and share of chronic conditions over the last decades in Russia intensification of effective resource utilization in healthcare comes into even greater importance. Objective of the study was to identify age-specific trends in adult morbidity based on health encounters at outpatient health care facilities. Methods included statistical, socio-hygienic, epidemiological, analytical and computation methods and comparative analysis. Results. The authors have conducted a detailed analysis of adult morbidity based on health encounters at outpatient health care facilities with a breakdown on six age groups and by all disease classes and some individual diseases. Trends in adult morbidity based on health encounters as well as its structure that reflect significant age-specific differences have been identified. While respiratory diseases and diseases of the urogenital system dominate within the first three age groups (18-29, 30-39 and 40-49 years of age) diseases of the blood circulatory system lead within the next three age groups (50-59, 60-69 and 70 years of age and over). The number of health encounters for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue increases starting from 50 years and over while diseases of the eye and adnexa account for the predominate share of the disease structure at the age of 60 years and over. Diseases of the digestive system remain relevant for all age groups ranking fourth or fifth. The number of health encounters for neoplasm is rising steadily starting from the age of 40 years and over; and malignant neoplasm starting from the age of 50 and over. At this age the share of endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases considerably increases. Conclusions. A relationship between age and encounter reason has been identified. In view of different age structure of the Russian regions information about major age-specific morbidity helps to deploy network of health care facilities with due regard to specific needs of a certain region. Furthermore, this study is an early stage of work aimed at determining the need for medical rehabilitation in Russia.