Life expectancy in the former USSR and mortality dynamics by cause of death: regional aspects.

"The purpose of our paper is to present recent trends of mortality in the former USSR in terms of demographic transition theory.... Analysis of data on mortality dynamics by age and cause of death allows us to consider some features of the progress of the demographic transition.... The principal causes of the discrepancy between the former USSR and Western countries appear to follow first of all from considerably lower living standards.... The second principal cause of unfavourable patterns of mortality was an unhealthy environment in the workplace and at home." The focus is on the 1980s.