Analysis of COVID-19 pandemics in Kazakhstan.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the demographic and epidemiological features of identified COVID-19 cases in Kazakhstan. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze COVID-19 cases (n=5116) collected from March 13 to June 6, 2020, in Kazakhstan. The data were obtained from a state official medical electronic database. The study investigated the geographic and demographic data of patients as well as the association of COVID-19 cases with gender and age. The prevalence of symptoms, the presence of comorbidities, complications, and COVID-19 mortality were determined for all patients. RESULTS: The mean±SD age of the patients in this study was 34.8±17.6 years, and the majority (55.7%) of COVID-19 cases were male and residents of cities (79.6%). In total, 80% of the cases had the asymptomatic/mild form of the disease. Cough (20.8 %) and sore throat (17.1%) were the most common symptoms among patients, and pneumonia was diagnosed in 1 out of 5 cases. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was recorded in 1.2% of the patients. The fatality rate was 1% in the study population and lethality was 2.6 times higher in males compared to females.  Each additional year in age increased the probability of COVID-19 infection by 1.06 times. The presence of cardiovascular, diabetes, respiratory, and kidney diseases affected the rate of mortality (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated a high proportion (40%) of the asymptomatic type of coronavirus infection in the Kazakhstan population. The severity of COVID-19 symptoms and lethality were directly related to the age of patients and the presence of comorbidities.

The ageing rate of workers engaged in chrome ore processing.

BACKGROUND: According to the modern concept of occupational medicine adopted by the World Health Organization, relationship between health and work is fully established while the levels of physical, chemical and biological harmful production factors can be considered as causative factors of occupational diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research is to determine the aging rate of at risk workers engaged in chrome ore processing in order to increase their health status and quality of life. METHODS: Biological age (BA) of workers was calculated by measuring the blood pressure, static balance (SB), respiratory rate (RR) and by a questionnaire survey on subjective health assessment (SHA). RESULTS: Based on the workplace certification, we have selected unfavorable professions to assess the rate of aging. We have determined the aging rate, according to which biological age exceeds the official age of workers engaged in chrome ore processing in harmful working conditions. CONCLUSIONS: In harmful working conditions, the aging rate accelerates manifesting in at risk worker's health status with BA-PBA ratio in the range from 2.6 to 7.9 years. Regulators, crusher attendants and refractory men, who work in unfavorable climate, should be the leading professional occupations in terms of proper biological age (PBA) monitoring.