Environment/Climate Change
Dust Storms, Air Pollution, and Non-Communicable Disease Burden in Uzbekistan Sergey Soshnikov* Sergey Soshnikov Soshnikov School of Health Sciences, Central Michigan University
Background
Uzbekistan has experienced significant economic growth, implemented transformative health policy reforms, and faced alarming environmental challenges. This has resulted in a complex set of environmental health challenges, in particular climate change, dust and sand storms, air pollution, and heat/cold waves. There has been significant progress in the country in controlling infectious diseases, reducing child mortality, and increasing life expectancy.
Methodology
Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease from 1990 to 2023 have been used to discover trends in mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), including those related to climate and air pollution. The age-standardized rates for the significant risk factors (including ambient particulate matter, household air pollution, and temperature), as well as for death and YLLs, and DALYs due to metabolic, behavioral, and environmental risks. The YLD-to-YLL ratio was used to assess the epidemiological transition.
Results
Ischemic heart disease, stroke, and lower respiratory infections are the leading causes of age-standardized mortality in 2023. There was an alarming 170% increase in diabetes-related mortality. Leading NCDs were ischemic heart disease with 4,800 DALYs, lower respiratory infections 3000 DALYs, neonatal disorders 2847 DALYs, stroke 1929 DALYs, and depressive disorders 544 DALYs – all per 100,000 population. Ambient particulate matter and other pollutants were core drivers of DALYs lost from cardiovascular diseases (7.8% of all DALYs), respiratory infections (1.8% of DALYs), and 1.4 % of neonatal disorders DALYs.
Conclusions
Surviving the rapidly growing burdens from the climate crisis and air pollution, especially from cardiometabolic and climate-sensitive diseases, remains the key to further advancements.
