Semey cardiovascular disease registry of the population exposed to radiation from Semipalatinsk nuclear weapons test site, East Kazakhstan

Lyudmila M. Pivina, TI Belikhina, ТK Rakhypbekov, Aiman Kerimkulova, Zauresh Zhumadilova, AA Dyussupov, Gulnara B. Batenova, ZE Muzdybaeva, А М Маркабаева, A M Grjibovski

2014

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DOI 10.1093/eurpub/cku151.089
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main killers in industrialized countries including Kazakhstan. The highest prevalence of CVD in Kazakhstan is registered in East Kazakhstan. Semipalatinsk (East Kazakhstan) was the main site for testing Soviet nuclear weapons in 1949-1991, but little information on health of the population living close to the test site is available. We established a registry of CVD covering those who were exposed to ionizing radiation in 1949-1991 and their children and grandchildren who live in areas adjacent to Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS). Methods Study area included settlements which were affected by radioactive pollution from STS. Medical examination of the population was performed in 2012-2013 including physical, laboratory and instrumental examination as well as assessment of individual radiation doses and all diagnosed cases of CVD were included into the registry. Results At present, the registry includes 1,742 individuals (72.2% females, 27.8% males) with CVD. People exposed to radiation in the period of surface and air nuclear blasts constitute 47.5% of the registered cases. The remaining 52.5% are their descendants. By ethnicity, 68.0% are Kazakhs and 32.0% are Russians. Most of the registered individuals received small (7-35 mSv) and ultra-low (<7 mSv) doses of radiation. The most common diseases among descendants of the exposed individuals hypertension (48.5%), angina pectoris (43.0), cardiosclerosis (43.3%) and cerebrovascular lesions (53.1%) are the most prevalent diagnoses in the registry. Computerization of data is still on-going. Conclusions Establishment of the Semey CVD registry can soon become a valuable tool for monitoring of health of those who were exposed to radiation from STS and their descendants as well for studying transgenerational effects of ionizing radiation on the development of CVD. Key message Semey cardiovascular disease registry is a unique source of information about cardiovascular diseases of the population exposed to radiation.