Assessment of the impact of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident on the incidence and prevalence of diseases of the genitourinary system in children of Ukraine

Abstract

Background. Over the past decades, the world has seen a significant increase in the prevalence and incidence of the genitourinary system diseases (GUSD) in children. The purpose of the study was to assess changes in the incidence and prevalence of diseases of the genitourinary system among the children population of Ukraine for the past 20 years in order to determine the possible impact of adverse environmental factors on their development, in particular the consequences of the Chernobyl accident and emissions from motor transport. Materials and methods. The analysis used the data of the State Institution “Center for Medical Statistics of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine for the period of 1997–2019. Methods of a systematic approach, cluster, correlation and epidemiological analysis were used. Results. Over the past 20 years, there has been a 37.4% increase in the incidence rate of GUSD among Ukrainian children (0–17 years). Also, in recent years, the prevalence of this patho­logy has increased by 52.6 %. Children with the status of victims of the Chernobyl accident had a significant increase in the incidence of GUSD (by 70.7 %) compared to the national indicators of the incidence of GUSD in children. For the last 7 years, this rate has exceeded the national indicators and similar indicators for children permanently residing in regions that were not radioactively contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Among children permanently residing in the regions of the country with territories of radiological control after the Chernobyl disaster, indicators of the incidence rates of diseases of the genitourinary system exceeded national ones in the early 90s and throughout the entire 20 years of monitoring. This fact requires continued monitoring of this cohort of children and taking the necessary medical and diagnostic measures. Conclusions. The existing difference between the 20-year term incidence rates of diseases of the genitourinary system has shown higher incidence among children affected by the Chernobyl accident, and children from regions with territories of radiological control in comparison with other regions of Ukraine. This fact clearly indicates a possible correlation between frequency and prevalence of diseases of the genitourinary system in these groups of the children population and medical and environmental factors, including radiation.