Comparative Analysis of Regional Mortality Rates and Causes in the Turkistan and Other Regions of Kazakhstan: Data from Unified National Electronic Healthcare System 2018-2023
Tilektes Maulenkul 1 2 * ,
Aizada Badiyeva 1,
Temirgali Aimyshev 1,
Makhsuda Abdussattarova 2,
Aigerim Japparkulova 2,
Gulnaz Nuskabayeva 2,
Elmira Iskandirova 2,
Ainash Oshibayeva 2,
Abduzhappar Gaipov 1 More Detail
1 Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
2 Faculty of Medicine, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi Kazakh-Turkish International university, Turkistan, Kazakhstan
* Corresponding Author
J CLIN MED KAZ, Volume 22, Issue 5, pp. 17-23.
https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/17152
OPEN ACCESS
401 Views
128 Downloads
Author Contributions: Conceptualization, T.M. and A.B.; methodology, T.A. and A.G..; validation, T.A. and M.A.; formal analysis, T.A.; investigation, E.I.; resources T.A. and A.B.; data curation, T.A.; writing – original draft preparation, T.M. and A.B.; writing – review and editing, A.G.; visualization, T.A.; supervision, A.G.; project administration, A.G., G.N. and A.O.; funding acquisition, A.O. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Turkistan is the most densely populated region of Kazakhstan, with 75% of its population residing in rural areas. The region holds for a rich historical and cultural background as it was recently named as the spiritual capital of the Turkic world. Despite the importance of the place, it has its own challenges in the healthcare field, especially with mortality rates. This study aimed to discover and analyze the structure of the death rates in Turkistan region in order to provide a reliable data for future research projects.
Methods:
Mortality data were obtained from the Unified National Electronic Health System of Kazakhstan for 2018-2023 years. The dataset comprised 1,073,382 individual death records. The classification of causes of death followed the WHO Global Health Estimates methodology. All statistical analyses were performed using the Python 3.11.
Results:
Turkistan region had 632 deaths per 100,000 population, which was lower than the national average death rate in 2018, however, during the COVID pandemic the numbers spiked to 882 deaths per 100,000 population. Despite high numbers during COVID, the region has managed this problem and by 2023 remained in the top 3 regions with the lowest death rates. Additionally, the following diseases were identified as the leading causes of death by 2023: other neuropsychiatric disorders, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Conclusion:
Turkistan region needs to develop targeted health programs against the current top death causing diseases, with the emphasis on enhancing the diagnosis, treatment, coding and registration capabilities.
CITATION
Maulenkul T, Badiyeva A, Aimyshev T, Abdussattarova M, Japparkulova A, Nuskabayeva G, et al. Comparative Analysis of Regional Mortality Rates and Causes in the Turkistan and Other Regions of Kazakhstan: Data from Unified National Electronic Healthcare System 2018-2023. J CLIN MED KAZ. 2025;22(5):17-23.
https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/17152
REFERENCES
- Qazaq Geography. Turkestan oblast.https://qazaqgeography.kz/en/turkestan-oblast-22103343. 2025.
- Bureau of National statistics of Agency for Strategic planning and reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Summary of the socio-economic development of the region. Published online 2025. https://stat.gov.kz/en/region/turkestan/
- Satubaldina A. Turkistan Region Offers Significant Investment Opportunities, Embodies Kazakhstan’s Spiritual Legacy.https://astanatimes.com/2022/09/turkistan-region-offers-significant-investment-opportunities-embodies-kazakhstans-spiritual-legacy/. September 28, 2022.
- Bureau of National statistics of Agency for Strategic planning and reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Turkistan spreadsheets. Published online 2025. https://stat.gov.kz/en/region/turkestan/spreadsheets/
- Gusmanov A, Zhakhina G, Yerdessov S, Sakko Y, Mussina K, Alimbayev A, Syssoyev D, Sarria-Santamera A, Gaipov A. Review of the research databases on population-based Registries of Unified electronic Healthcare system of Kazakhstan (UNEHS): Possibilities and limitations for epidemiological research and Real-World Evidence. Int J Med Inform. 2023;170:104950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104950
- Beyembetova A, Ablayeva A, Akhmedullin R, Abdukhakimova D, Biniyazova A, Gaipov A. National Electronic Oncology Registry in Kazakhstan: Patient’s Journey. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights. 2025;1(1):ehdi004. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/16385
- World Health Organization. WHO Mortality Database. Published online 2025. https://www.who.int/data/data-collection-tools/who-mortality-database
- Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan. Agency for Strategic planning and reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Published online 2025. https://stat.gov.kz/en/
- World Health Organization. Global Health Estimates. Published online 2025. https://www.who.int/data/global-health-estimates
- Aimyshev T, Zhakhina G, Yerdessov S, Akhmedullin R, Galiyeva D, Yergaliyev K, Sarria-Santamera A, Semenova Y, Gaipov A. Mortality trends in Kazakhstan: insights from a million of deaths from 2014 to 2022. BMC Public Health. 2025;25(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23346-3
- Zhalmagambetov B, Madikenova M, Paizullayeva S, Abbay A, Gaipov A. COVID-19 Outbreak in Kazakhstan: Current Status and Challenges. J Clin Med Kaz. 2020;1(55):6-8. doi:10.23950/1812-2892-JCMK-00763
- Yermakov A, Akzholova K, Aimyshev T, Arupzhanov I, Zhakhina G, Gaipov A. Predictors of All-cause Mortality among Stroke Patients in Kazakhstan: A Retrospective Study Using Integrated AI Data Extraction. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights. 2025;1(1):ehdi003. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/16386
- Saduyeva K, Zhakhina G, Karsybay A, Kuzentay A, Arupzhanov I, Bulegenov A, Aimyshev T, Gaipov A. Predictors of All-cause Mortality among Hospitalized HIV Patients in Kazakhstan: a Retrospective Study. J Clin Med Kaz. 2024;21(5):27-34. https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/15488
- Gaffney AW, Hawks L, White AC, Woolhandler S, Himmelstein D, Christiani DC, McCormick D. Health Care Disparities Across the Urban‐Rural Divide: A National Study of Individuals with COPD. J Rural Health. 2022;38(1):207-216. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12525
- Kardashian A, Serper M, Terrault N, Nephew LD. Health disparities in chronic liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(4):1382-1403. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.32743
- Syssoyev D, Seitkamzin A, Lim N, Mussina K, Poddighe D, Gaipov A, Galiyeva D. Epidemiology of Congenital Heart Disease in Kazakhstan: Data from the Unified National Electronic Healthcare System 2014-2021. J Clin Med Kaz. 2024;21(3):49-55. https://doi.org/10.23950/jcmk/14683