Sharp Increase in Mortality and Morbidity Indicators in Artsakh

The sole road connecting Artsakh to Armenia (the Lachin corridor) has been blocked by Azerbaijan for the past eight months, resulting in severe shortages of medicine and food and continuous stress. This situation has led to an increase in various diseases and complications in besieged Artsakh compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Artsakh.

During the seven-month period (January-July), there has been more than a twofold increase in mortality from diseases of the circulatory system, including a 66% increase in deaths from acute and chronic heart failure, a 20.8% rise from acute myocardial infarction, and an 8.8% increase from strokes. In July alone, deaths from circulatory system diseases rose even further, reaching an estimated 2.6 times compared to July of the previous year, with deaths due to acute heart failure increasing 2.5 times, acute myocardial infarction increasing 4 times, and strokes increasing 3 times.

The number of deaths from malignant neoplasms rose by 15.9% during the same period. Contributing factors to the increase in mortality include the shortage or absence of necessary medications, changes in quality of life, and severely limited access to proper medical care, which reduce the quality of life.

During the same timeframe, new cases of acute cerebral circulation disorders (strokes) and acute myocardial infarction increased by 26% and 9.7%, respectively. Additionally, there was a 24.3% increase in newly diagnosed cases of malignant neoplasms from January to July.

In comparison to the previous year, the level of anemia among pregnant women under the supervision of doctors reached nearly 90% during the January-July period due to inadequate nutrition and the shortage or absence of relevant medications.

Although there was no recorded increase in spontaneous abortions during the first half of the year, July saw a sharp rise in medically indicated abortions, with a fourfold increase. The dire situation is exacerbated by stress, insufficient food, and the shortage or absence of medications.

Emergency services reported a significant increase in cases of fainting (collapse) in July, with a 91% rise compared to the same month last year. Many incidents of fainting go unrecorded as citizens recover before emergency responders arrive.

July also recorded a sudden 5.6 times increase in emergency calls related to hypertension compared to the same period last year. The rise in mortality and morbidity indicators, among other factors, is attributed to the severe health issues stemming from the blockade of Artsakh and subsequent total siege, including shortages or absence of medications and medical supplies, malnutrition, stress, and the suspension of planned surgeries and examinations, along with severely limited opportunities for medical assistance in Armenia and abroad.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Artsakh warns that should Azerbaijan continue its complete siege of Artsakh, the aforementioned and other indicators will likely increase significantly, leading to numerous deaths and a deterioration in health conditions. The healthcare system is doing its utmost to mitigate the effects of these serious challenges; however, the complete blockage of the movement of people, vehicles, and goods through the Lachin corridor makes it virtually impossible to ensure systematic and adequate healthcare solutions.