Background The Aral Sea crisis has led to harmful effects on human habitat. In recent years, mild cognitive impairment is a growing problem. Objectives This article provides the results of studying the neuropsychological state of residents living in the crisis zone of the Aral Sea region in the case of Shalkar city. We have provided an assessment of the neuropsychological state of examined population and determined the leading pathology in this region. Methods The survey sample included 344 persons of reproductive age from 21 to 45 years. We have obtained results in biochemical studies, indicating perturbations of proteometabolism and lipid metabolism. Results A correlation analysis showed dependence between a decrease of albumin and high-density lipoproteins, an increase of low-density lipoproteins and parameters of cognitive function. Conclusions The research suggests a high prevalence of cerebrovascular pathology among the population, changes in cognitive function parameters, long-term and short-term memory problems and high levels of depression.
Risk factors in Aral Sea region include toxic metals that competitively interact with essential elements influencing their metabolism, affecting metabolic and cognitive functions. According to epidemiological data, cerebrovascular disease and thyroid function abnormality are the leading disorders. Cognitive and metabolic disorders are considered as risk factors in cerebrovascular diseases. Thus, the objective of current work was to determine the metabolic and cognitive state of people in Aralsk, associated with an imbalance of essential trace elements and find correlation between toxic metals load and psychoemotional status. 275 people between the ages of 21 and 45 years were involved. In evaluating cognitive state, a decrease in short-term memory for numbers and an increase in depression among subjects was found. An inverse correlation between the copper level in blood and short-term memory for numbers, between depression and iodine level in blood, between the zinc level in blood and the “attentional capacity” was also found. The results showed a significant metabolic stress among subjects during adaptation to a high chemical load. Data represent a cross-sectional age-dependent review of metabolic and cognitive processes and microelement metabolism among population, living in the Aral Sea region for a long time.
The state of health of healthcare practitioners with occupational exposure to a complex of hazards may differ from the state of health of general population and justify the need to develop a number of preventive measures for healthcare practitioners. The purpose of the study was assessment of the prevalence of morbidity among medical specialists (MRI and ultrasound diagnostics). Design: retrospective (2018-2021), nonrandomized. Participants: MRI and ultrasound diagnostics specialists, ophthalmologists (as control). An analysis of data on healthcare practitioners seeking for medical care was done (diagnosis by ICD-10). Morbidity was also compared with general population of the RK. Higher morbidity of healthcare practitioners of the listed above specialties with genitourinary and musculoskeletal systems diseases, eye diseases and oncopathology was revealed. Comparing with ophthalmologists, ultrasound diagnostic specialists had higher morbidity with malignant and benign neoplasms (RR 2.74 and RR 9.58, respectively), MRI specialists had higher morbidity with malignant neoplasms and blood diseases (RR 4.73 and RR 1.89, respectively). The incidence rates of SARS-COV-2 in MRI and ultrasound diagnostic specialists and ophthalmologists exceeded those in the general population of the RK. Identified features of the morbidity of healthcare practitioners should be taken into account in labor ergonomics and organization of preventive and screening measures for diagnosing diseases.
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