Causes of the Russian mortality crisis: Evidence and interpretations

During 1992-94 life expectancy at birth in Russia dropped by 6.1 years for men and by 3.3 years for women. Very little individual-level evidence linki ng mortality experience with social conditions and behaviors is available. This article puts together evidence from analysis of routinely collected da ta on changes in Russian mortality. These data suggest that the mortality u psurge cannot be attributed to absolute deprivation, collapse of the health system or environmental pollution. Instead, psychological stress caused by the shock of an abrupt and severe economic transition is likely to have pl ayed a major role mediated in part by the adverse health effects of excessi ve alcohol consumption. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.