Mortality pattern among Keralite workers in foreign countries, during 1989 - 1998.

 
The major objective of this study was to investigate the mortality pattern among Keralite expatriates working in different countries.

The death certificates of the deceased accompanying their bodies at the international airports in Kerala were collected during the period 1989 to 1998 and recorded the relevant information on age,sex, country of death, and causes of death.
 

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Mortality excess from Heart diseases and injuries among Gulf expatriates with special reference to Keralites.

 
The major objective of the study was to evaluate the extent of mortality due to Heart diseases and injuries among Kerala expatriate workers in Gulf countries compared to other expatriates.

The data were taken from the study conducted earlier on Keralite expatriate mortality in addition to published mortality data from Kuwait, Beharain and UAE since 1989. The data on age,sex,nationality,and causes of death were collected. The causes of deaths were classified according to international classification of diseases. The proportional mortality (PM) of the heart diseases and Injuries were calculated and compared.
 

 
The purpose of the study was to estimate the extent and trend of SAM among Kuwaities and Expatriate men of age 35 years and above during the three consecutive periods 1986-89,1992-94 and 1995-97.

The source of data come from published reports of Ministry of Health, Kuwait. The SAM was estimated based on the epidemiological method developed by Prof. Richard Peto.

Conclusion based on the study.

The observed SAM estimated from the Kuwait mortality data indicates a much lower figure, about 10% compared to 24% in developed countries.
It may be infered that, the proportion of men at a threshold level of smoking conducive to cause smoking related morbidity and mortality may still be at a lower level in Kuwait.

The present analysis showed higher mortality rate for lung cancer in the recent period(1995-97) as compared to earlier periods (1986-89 and 1992-94) (Fig.8).
If the smoking prevalence among men continues to increase, Kuwait may gradually shift to a stage almost similar to that experienced by the developed countries.

Based on the projected population of 0.5 million Kuwaiti males aged >35 years in year 2050, from fifty years from now, in 2050, more than 2000 Kuwaiti men would die prematurely from tobacco related diseases if the experience of developed country is repeated in Kuwait (see Table).

The analysis suggests that Kuwait may most likely shift to a stage where great loss of life may be expected in future decades due to premature deaths on account of tobacco smoking. Urgent public health action is needed now to prevent the large number of premature deaths in the future generation.
 

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Cardiovascular(CVD) and other chronic diseases are becoming the major causes of morbidity and mortality in most of the third world countries including India. This is particularly true for Kerala State where the mortality and fertility level is very low comparable to and developed country.

The mojor objective of this pilot study was to find the prevalence of various behavioural risk factors like tobacco use,excess use of alcohol, unhealthy bdiet, sedentary lifestyle, work pressure,stress and strain and histoty of chronic diseases.

Abstract available on request.
 

 
Based on extensive medical literature review it was assumed that the prevalence of various risk factors for chronic diseases like CVD are more among expatriate workers than original national residents. The Indian expatriates who are relatively with short duration of stay in the gulf are likely to have highter prevalence of risk factors in host countries compared to nationala and other expatriates.

The major objective of this study was to find the prevalence of various behavioural risk factors like tobacco use,excess use of alcohol, unhealthy bdiet, sedentary lifestyle, work pressure,stress and strain and histoty of chronic diseases among expatriate workers and nationals of age 18 years and above and also to make comparison among various socio economic groups of expatriates.

Abstract on request.