CLIMATE AND HUMAN HEALTH AT THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST

Aims: To identify regional and seasonal patterns of climate at the continental part of the Far East and to study associations between climate discomfort and population health. Methods: Correlation coefficients between climatic indices in January and July and all-cause-, cardiovascular- and respiratory mortality and morbidity were calculated. Results: The overall morbidity was similar to the national average. It was slightly lower for circulatory diseases, but higher for respiratory diseases. In some regions the latter was significantly higher than the national average. Circulatory- and respiratory morbidity was almost twice as high in Chukotka (Far North East) than in the Jewish Autonomous Region (South Far East). At the same time, the low all-cause mortality in Chukotka needs further research. Conclusions: Common and specific patterns of spatial and seasonal variations and their associations with morbidity were observed in the continental part of the Russian Far East. Wet Kata Cooling Power index by Hill seems to be the best indicator of thermal discomfort. Significant correlations between health indicators and thermal discomfort expressed by bioclimatic indices are in line with other studies suggesting links between population health in the Russian Far East and climate. Low all-cause mortality in Chukotka requires further research.

bioclimatic indices, climatic discomfort, human health indicators, Russian Far East