Comparison of the Incidence of Cardiovascular Diseases in Children Living in Areas that Were Contaminated by the Chernobyl Disaster and in Other Ecologically Unfavorable Regions of Ukraine (Results of 24-Year Monitoring)

Introduction. Ecotoxic factors, particularly emerging from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
(CNPP) accident in 1986 as well as some others, play a signifi cant role in the increasing prevalence of
circulatory system diseases in children from environmentally compromised areas in Ukraine.
Purpose. Comparative assessment of the incidence and prevalence of circulatory system diseases
in children living in regions with territories of radioecological control (TRC) after the Chernobyl
accident and in unpolluted areas over the past 24 years in order to identify trends in their health
status and to verify the appropriate preventive measures.
Materials and methods. In order to assess the dynamics of changes in the incidence and
prevalence of circulatory system diseases (CSD) in children from diff erent regions of Ukraine, there
was performed statistical analysis based on comprehensive data analysis provided by the Health
Statistics Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
Results and discussion. In the last 24 years, the incidence of CDS in Ukrainian children has
increased by 65.6% thereby exceeding the growth rate of the overall morbidity of the pediatric
population of Ukraine by 2.17 times. The increased incidence of cardiac pathology was mostly
observed in children living in radiologically contaminated areas caused by the Chernobyl accident
in 1986. In the controlled regions, there were high incidence rates of CDS in children, including
nonrheumatic heart, vascular diseases, essential hypertension that were 30.8% higher than in
the state and 47.9% higher than in the areas without radioecological control. In children born to
parents, who were the victims of the Chernobyl accident or participants of the elimination of its
consequences, the incidence and prevalence rates of CDS also exceeded the corresponding rates in
children nationwide.
Conclusions. In contrast to previous concepts, the cardiovascular system of children living in the
territories contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster proved to be sensitive to the complex and
prolonged negative eff ects of the environmental ecotoxic factors, such as radiation.