Contribution of migrants to mortality in Moscow during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the health status and mortality of population all over the world. The mortality rate in Moscow also increased significantly since the density of Moscow population is high and the city is very attractive for migrant workers.
Objective. To determine the contribution of migrants died from various causes of death to the mortality in Moscow for 2019-2021.
Materials and methods. In study, authors used the data on Moscow population and the real-time data on deceased persons by death causes according to the ICD-10 provided by the service “Registration of death” of automated information system UMIAS of Moscow Healthcare Department.
Results. The average contribution of migrants to the total mortality in Moscow is 10% among women and 16% among men in 2019-2021. As for the age composition, the most significant contribution is from the migrant children and working-age youth aged 20 to 30 in women (an average of 50%) and to 35 in men (an average of 60%). These results are especially true for migrant workers. Diseases of the circulatory system, external causes and neoplasms were the leading death causes among migrants before the pandemic. Then, the COVID-19 became the third common cause in 2020 and the first one in 2021. As for the death cause, the migrants contributed most to the perinatal and maternal mortality as well as to the mortality from infectious diseases, mental disorders and external causes.
Conclusion. Cardiomyopathy and endocarditis, leading causes from the diseases of the circulatory system, often become the complications of infectious diseases, including imported infections. It is crucial to implement a record-keeping system by citizenship and place of birth or residence, particularly within the service “Registration of death” of automated information system UMIAS of Moscow, in order to monitor the epidemiological situation and to make timely organizational decisions.