State and dynamics of public health in Russia and the Vologda region: Comparative analysis

International and national strategic priorities in public health (UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, the Russian national project “Long and Active Life”) underscore the need for continued efforts to increase population life expectancy. The key challenges currently facing the preservation of public health in Russia are population aging, depopulation, and the COVID-19 pandemic effects. This highlights the importance of studying its current state and long-term trends in the dynamics of key indicators. The aim of our study is to identify specific features of public health and trends in the dynamics of its key indicators at the national and regional levels. The information base included data from national demographic and medical statistics, as well as nationwide and regional sample sociological surveys. The analysis covers indicators of general and primary morbidity, temporary disability, primary disability and mortality (broken down by major disease classes), life expectancy (broken down by gender and territory), including healthy life years, as well as self-assessed health status for the population of Russia as a whole and the Vologda Region in particular. The study identifies positive characteristics and trends in the public health of Russians, as well as unfavorable parameters and trends in the dynamics of its indicators. The specific features of the state and trends in public health of the regional population are highlighted in comparison with the national situation. The obtained results are of interest to national and regional healthcare systems and can serve as guidelines for determining the population's need for medical care and prevention, as well as for setting priorities in state policy aimed at preserving the population.