[Alma Mata] IISH Public Seminar

[Jane Johnson]

2007/08 IISH PUBLIC SEMINAR SERIES

You are invited to attend a workshop on:

Tuesday 27th November 3.00- 5.00pm 

The Russian Mortality Crisis and the Role of Alcohol
Dr Susannah Tomkins (LSHTM), Dr Martin Bobak (UCL) and 
Dr S Goya Wannamethee (UCL)

Russia's transition from a socialist to market-led economy was 
accompanied by a severe decline in the health status of the population. 
Between 1991 and 1994, life expectancy for men fell by over six years and 
for women by over three years. This dramatic decline was unprecedented 
both in Russia and in other industrialised countries. Alcohol consumption 
plays a far greater role in the mortality crisis than had previously been 
thought. Other factors such as increased psychosocial stress during the 
period could also have contributed to this mortality crisis. Britain has seen a 
doubling in the rates of alcohol-related deaths since 1991, although life 
expectancy has increased by over three years since then.

This workshop is organised by the UCL International Institute for Society 
and Health, with three invited speakers. Dr Susannah Tomkins works on the 
`Izhevsk Family Study´, a case-control study investigating the risk factors for 
premature mortality in Russian men of working age, and a longitudinal study 
on alcohol and mortality in Russia. Dr Martin Bobak leads the HAPIEE Study 
(Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors In Eastern Europe), a multi-centre 
study assessing the effects of dietary factors, alcohol consumption and 
psychosocial factors on health in men and women in Russia, Poland, 
Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. Dr S Goya Wannamethee works on the 
British Regional Heart Study, a prospective study in middle-aged men drawn 
from general practices in 24 British towns, recruited in 1978-1980 and is one 
of the leading academics on the health effects of alcohol in Britain.

Each speaker will talk for twenty minutes, followed by ten minutes of 
question and answers. There will be an open discussion at the end led by 
Professor Sir Michael Marmot.



This seminar will be held at UCL. RSVP seminar attendance by 
23/11/07 (indicating any special needs and for directions to the 
seminar room) Email: iish at ucl.ac.uk  Tel: 020 7679 8249 Drinks & 
snacks at 5pm after the seminar. 

You may access an audio recording of past seminars at: 
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/iish/seminars.htm