Penza, 3 March 2016. PenzaNews. Cardiovascular diseases is the number one cause of natural death in the Penza region, with a share of 58%, said Oksana Chizhova, assistant Minister of Health of the region, during the ministry meeting held in the Burdenko hospital on Thursday, March 3.

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According to her, tumorous illnesses cause 14% of deaths, external circumstances – 8.6%, gastrointestinal diseases – 6%, and breathing apparatus diseases – 4%.

“The lethality rate for working age population continues to decrease. It went by almost 4% – from 541 cases to 520 per 100,000 working age people – in 2015,” stressed the Assistant Minister.

The Penza region holds the 20th place in Russia in working age lethality rate, Oksana Chizhova clarified.

At the same time, the assistant minister pointed out, the lowest lethality rate is in the Bessonovka and Penza areas, and the Penza city proper.