Background: In the Republic of Kazakhstan, informal caregivers remain the main source of patient support. Caregivers of individuals with dementia experience an increased caregiver burden and significantly higher levels of stress. We investigated the levels of caregiver burden, depression, anxiety, and stress among informal dementia caregivers and assessed the relationships between these indicators and the caregivers’ socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: With the cooperation of two regional mental health centers and three polyclinics in Kazakhstan, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 174 informal caregivers of dementia patients. The caregiver burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview, and psychological distress was measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. The caregivers’ sociodemographic data were collected and analyzed. The adjusted odds ratios and 95%CIs were calculated using logistic and ordinal regressions. Results: Overall, 75.9% of the caregivers reported experiencing at least a mild burden, and the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among the caregivers were higher than expected. Spousal caregivers had higher odds of abnormal depression (p = 0.022) and anxiety (p = 0.020); in severity models, spouses more often had a severe burden (p = 0.042) and anxiety (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Caregiver burden and psychological distress are highly prevalent among informal dementia caregivers in Kazakhstan, particularly among spouses. It is especially important to provide support for spouse caregivers. Culturally tailored psychoeducation, support groups, and respite services are urgently needed to mitigate the mental health risks faced by dementia caregivers in Kazakhstan.

Background: Environmental problems can significantly influence population health. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most common cause of death in developed countries including in Kazakhstan. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between exposure to ionizing radiation and mortality risks from major CVDs for the population of Kazakhstan living in areas adjacent to the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (SNTS). Materials and Methods: The study of the structure and dynamics of cardiovascular mortality was based on the State Scientific Automated Medical Registry (SSAMR) database. Among members of the exposed group, the median equivalent radiation dose was 864.0 mSv, compared to 64.4 mSv in the control group. It should be noted that almost the entire population of the Semipalatinsk region was exposed to some degree of radiation; however, the Kokpekti district received the lowest radiation doses. Results: Mortality rates from CVD were statistically significantly higher in the radiation-exposed population from 1960 to 1994, with RR fluctuating from 1.118 to 8.7. The predominant mortality events were chronic coronary heart disease, chronic cerebrovascular disease, and hemorrhagic stroke throughout the study period, and acute myocardial infarction within 20 years of the start of nuclear testing. In the exposed group, RR = 10.35 for chronic cerebrovascular disease, RR = 3.56 for hemorrhagic stroke, and RR = 5.77 for peripheral arterial atherosclerosis. A dose of 100–500 mSv increased the risk of mortality from CVD by 3.14 times, and a dose of >600 mSv increased it by 7.05 times. Conclusions: A link has been established between long-term exposure to ionizing radiation and increased risks of mortality from CVD in the population of areas contaminated with radiation as a result of nuclear testing.

At Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (SNTS), nuclear weapons tests lasted from 1949 to 1989, with a total of 468 nuclear weapons explosions (including 117 air and ground tests) being conducted. The aim of our study is to evaluate trends in the field of conducted research on the assessment of the health status of the population of Kazakhstan exposed to radiation as a result of nuclear weapons testing at the STNS, as well as the contribution of various countries, institutions, journals and authors to these studies. Research methods included: formulating research questions; selecting databases to search for the information of interest; collecting information on publications; selecting a program to conduct bibliometric analysis; creating maps according to research questions; analyzing bibliometric data. We used the VOSviewer program. Based on 109 articles, we conducted a comprehensive review of publication activity on the problems of biodosimetry, molecular genetic bases for the implementation of radiation-induced diseases, such as cancer, thyroid pathology, circulatory system diseases, reproductive health pathology, psychological aspects of the health of exposed residents of Kazakhstan. Our bibliometric analysis can serve as a basis for identifying the most important key areas for future research into the health of affected residents of Kazakhstan.

Background: This study aims to investigate the genetic contribution of polymorphic variants of the TCF7L2 (rs7903146) and PPARG (rs1801282) genes to the risk of developing prediabetes in individuals of Kazakh ethnicity. Materials and Methods: This was a case-control study involving 200 cases with prediabetes and 200 prediabetes-free controls, aged 16–60 years (n = 400). Real-time polymerase chain reaction on a StepOnePlus instrument (Applied Biosystems, USA), employing the TaqMan method for site-specific amplification and genotyping of the TCF7L2 (rs7903146) and PPARG (rs1801282) genes was used. Results: Patients with prediabetes had a higher birth weight, increased BMI, larger waist and hip circumferences, and a higher waist-to-hip ratio compared to healthy patients in the control group. There was a significant increase in the risk of developing prediabetes for both the rs1801282 polymorphism of the PPARG gene and the rs7903146 polymorphism of the TCF7L2 gene. The risk was 9.8 times higher in carriers of the GG genotype of PPARG (rs1801282) (OR = 9.769, 95% CI: 2.124–44.922, p = 0.003) and 10.7 times higher for carriers of the TT genotype of TCF7L2 (rs7903146) (OR = 10.731, 95% CI: 1.309–87.939, p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for tailored early screening and preventive strategies for prediabetes in the Kazakh population, focusing on individuals with high-risk genotypes. Such efforts could improve targeted interventions and reduce the burden of prediabetes. Future research should adopt a longitudinal design, include diverse ethnic groups, and investigate additional genetic markers to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the genetic underpinnings of prediabetes.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had profound impacts worldwide on individuals with mental and behavioral disorders, including disorders due to psychoactive substance use. We investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the trends in these disorders in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Methods: We researched and compared ICD-10 data on mental and behavioral disorders due to substance use in Kazakhstan that were diagnosed in 2018–2019 (pre-pandemic) versus 2020–2021 (the pandemic period). Results: The data for the pandemic period were significantly different from those of the pre-pandemic in that (i) ‘other stimulant-related disorders (F15)’ and ‘other psychoactive substance-related disorders (F19)’ were increased in the younger age groups, (ii) the risk of ‘opioid-related disorders (F11)’ was decreased in the 30-year-old group in both males and females, and (iii) the risk of ‘alcohol-related disorders (F10)’ was increased in the 30-year-old group and decreased in the 20- and 50-year-old groups. In only the males, (iv) the risk of ‘other psychoactive substance-related disorders (F19)’ was increased in almost all of the age groups, and (v) the risk of ‘cannabis-related disorders (F12)’ was increased in the ≥50-year-olds. The pre-pandemic and pandemic periods thus involved changes due to COVID-19 in both males and females that were especially notable in males. Conclusions: These results indicate that further measures designed to prevent mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substances are necessary at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, and personnel in medicine/nursing, the government, private organizations, and the public need to collaborate to devise such measures.

Approximately 95% of skeletal size, bone, and muscle mass is achieved by the age of 18, with a rapid acceleration in bone mineral accumulation and muscle growth during the adolescent growth spurt. Bone mineral status in children and adolescents in Kazakhstan is a relevant subject for both clinical and fundamental research. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) and the factors associated with it in children and adolescents living in the Abay region of Kazakhstan. The target group consisted of children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years (n = 509) who had been residing in the Abay region of Kazakhstan since birth. Based on physiological age, participants were divided into two groups: 5–10 years (preschool and early school age) and 11–17 years (adolescence). All participants completed a questionnaire and underwent bone mineral density assessment using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Comparisons were made between two age groups (5–10 and 11–17 years) and based on the presence or absence of reduced bone mineralization. Regression analysis identified four factors independently associated with reduced bone mineralization: ionized calcium (AOR 2099.9; p = 0.007), age (AOR 1.21; p = 0.013), body weight (AOR 0.97; p = 0.047), and green vegetables (AOR 0.46; p = 0.017). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that 50.5% of children aged 5–10 years and 57.4% of adolescents aged 11–17 years had BMD below the age-specific norm. The study identified several risk factors that are associated with a decrease in BMD. These include blood ionized calcium, age, inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables and dairy products, low physical activity, and insufficient sun exposure. These findings highlight the importance of early prevention of osteopenic conditions beginning in childhood and adolescence.