During the 20(th) century, the share of elderly in the total population of the Earth has increased steadily. It is expected that this trend will continue in the 21(st) century. In 1950, the elderly (persons aged 60 years and older) were 8% of the world population; in 2000, is already 10%; and in 2050, according to United Nations projections, the proportion will reach 21%. This research on Kazakhstan provides demographic analysis from 1989 to 2012 and presents the main features of population' ageing through comparative analysis. We used information-analytical, content-analysis, mathematical treatment and comparative analysis of statistical data on demographic status in Kazakhstan and some other countries of the world (UK, USA, Turkey, Russia) over the 1989-2012. Age dependency ratio of the Russian federation - >1.7 times, in the USA-up to 1.9 times and the UK has dependency ratio higher than 2.5 times of similar indicators in Kazakhstan in 2010. Life expectancy of the elderly population KZ after 65 years in 2010 was only 13.8 years, which is 6-9 years inferior to European and U.S. indices. Thus, increasing the retirement age is inappropriate for the current period.

Background: Self-rated health (SRH) has been widely studied to assess health inequalities in both developed and developing countries. However, no studies have been performed in Central Asia. The aim of the study was to assess gender-, ethnic-, and social inequalities in SRH in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Methods: Altogether, 1500 randomly selected adults aged 45 years or older were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study and 1199 agreed (response rate 80%). SRH was classified as poor, satisfactory, good and excellent. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to study associations between SRH and socio-demographic characteristics. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) for poor vs. good and for satisfactory vs. good health were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Altogether, poor, satisfactory, good and excellent health was reported by 11.8%, 53.7%, 31.0% and 3.2% of the responders, respectively. Clear gradients in SRH were observed by age, education and self-reported material deprivation in both crude and adjusted analyses. Women were more likely to report poor (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-3.1) or satisfactory (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.1) than good health. Ethnic Russians and unmarried participants had greater odds for poor vs. good health (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.5-3.7 and OR = 4.0, 95% CI: 2.7-6.1, respectively) and for satisfactory vs. good health (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.9 and OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4-2.5, respectively) in crude analysis, but the estimates were reduced to non-significant levels after adjustment. Unemployed and pensioners were less likely to report good health than white-collar workers while no difference in SRH was observed between white- and blue-collar workers. Conclusion: Considerable levels of inequalities in SRH by age, gender, education and particularly self-reported material deprivation, but not by ethnicity or marital status were found in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Further research is warranted to identify the factors behind the observed associations in Kazakhstan.

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs), encompassing a broad spectrum of chronic disorders, typically necessitate prolonged therapeutic intervention. Nevertheless, these diseases can sometimes manifest as severe emergencies requiring prompt and extensive medical intervention. Urgent intervention is essential for effectively recognizing and managing these situations, as they have the potential to be life-threatening and can result in severe morbidity and mortality. Emergencies in IRDs can occur with different frequencies and manifestations, including nervous system issues, severe infections, thrombosis-emboli, renal crises, gastrointestinal issues, and cardiovascular events. The fact that these events can occur across different IRDs underscores the necessity for heightened awareness and readiness among healthcare professionals. The pathophysiologic mechanisms that cause rheumatic emergencies are complex and involve multiple factors. These emergencies frequently arise due to the interplay between the inflammatory characteristics of rheumatic diseases and different systemic triggers. Early detection and treatment can have a substantial impact on an individual’s prognosis in cases of severe and life-threatening disorders that require prompt recognition. Rapid decision-making and urgent care are required to effectively address rheumatic emergencies, as well as the implementation of a diagnostic flowchart. This article provides an overview of the emergencies linked to IRDs, classifying and assessing them individually. This article aims to enhance healthcare professionals’ knowledge and awareness of critical situations by examining current recommendations and pathophysiological information. Implementing standardized diagnostic and treatment methods, providing patient education, and conducting continuing research into the underlying mechanisms are essential for enhancing the management of these critical situations and improving patient outcomes.

Background. The industrial city of Zhezkazgan is one of the most important cities in the industrial sector and the most polluted city in the Republic of Kazakhstan. There is placed Kazakhstan’s largest copper smelter. The entire technological process (extraction, crushing, grinding, purification, and smelting of pure ingots) of the production of the copper smelter releases into the environment mainly various kinds of solid particles, sulfur oxides (SOx), and various carcinogenic elements. Emissions from the industrial facilities extend to a significant area around the city, combined with other sources of environmental pollution (motor transport, thermal power plant, individual heating systems, and others). Objective. This study assessed the health status of residents of villages near Zhezkazgan by screening, quality of life studies, and official medical statistics. Methods. This study assessed the health status and quality of life of residents near Zhezkazgan city. The cohort included residents from Talap village (main group) and Malshybai village (comparison group) from the Ulytau district in the Karaganda region. The sampling for the health check and quality of life survey covered 260 adult residents of Talap village and 146 adult residents of Malshybai village. Univariate analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results. In the city district of Zhezkazgan, the overall mortality rate and mortality from diseases of the circulatory system, neoplasms, and respiratory diseases were much higher than in the Karaganda region and the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2015–2020. Residents of the Talap settlement had higher rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) (OR 1.30; 95% CI: 0.70–2.39; and $p<0.05$ ), arterial hypertension (AH) (OR 1.84; 95% CI: 1.11–3.03; and $p<0.05$ ), decreased hemoglobin (OR 1.89; 95% CI: 1.17–3.07; and $p<0.05$ ), and endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, obesity, and thyrotoxicosis) (OR 1.76; 95% CI: 1.12–2.79; and $p<0.05$ ) at registration than residents of the Malshybai settlement. Residents of both settlements expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of drinking water and the presence of the area where launch vehicles fell. Conclusion. Indicators of pollution in the city, statistics of official mortality, and differences in morbidity indicated the negative impact of hazardous emissions from industrial facilities of the copper smelter on public health.

Expanding longevity, together with a decrease in mortality, leads to an increase in the older population worldwide. In this review, ageing and older adults, as well as psychosocial and advanced technological interventions, will be discussed. Older adults are associated with an increased incidence of multimorbidity and disability; thus, they have a higher demand for health services than younger individuals. Challenges in welfare services and inadequate family and community-based care support negatively impact the psychosocial and economic wellbeing of older people. Active ageing and successful ageing are crucial aspects for a better quality of life in this age group, as there is a complex interplay of different domains and disease types that influence quality of life in older adults. Additionally, promoting the social participation of older adults is vital for improving their quality of life. Furthermore, the use of technology in older adults has a positive impact on their quality of life; however, aside from the promotion and implementation of technological interventions, challenges persist at all levels of acceptance and use. A better understanding of these challenges and implementing measures to overcome them will have a significant impact on the technological acceptance of older adults and their use in daily life activities, resulting in more favourable quality of life outcomes.

Reforms in inpatient care are critical for the enhancement of the efficiency of health systems. It still remains the main costly sector of the health system, accounting for more than 60% of all expenditures. Inappropriate and ineffective use of the hospital infrastructure is also a big issue. We aimed to analyze statistical data on health indices and dynamics of the hospital stock in Kazakhstan in comparison with those of developed countries. Study design is comparative quantitative analysis of inpatient care indicators. We used information and analytical methods, content analysis, mathematical treatment, and comparative analysis of statistical data on health system and dynamics of hospital stock in Kazakhstan and some other countries of the world [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), USA, Canada, Russia, China, Japan, and Korea] over the period 2001-2011. Despite substantial and continuous reductions over the past 10 years, hospitalization rates in Kazakhstan still remain high compared to some developed countries, including those of the OECD. In fact, the hospital stay length for all patients in Kazakhstan in 2011 is around 9.9 days, hospitalization ratio per 100 people is 16.3, and hospital beds capacity is 100 per 10,000 inhabitants. The decreased level of beds may adversely affect both medical organization and health system operations. Alternatives to the existing inpatient care are now being explored. The introduction of the unified national healthcare system allows shifting the primary focus on primary care organizations, which can decrease the demand on inpatient care as a result of improving the health status of people at the primary care level.