Changes in mortality after the recent economic crisis in South Korea

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the changes in all cause mortality and cause-specific mortality after the economic crisis in South Korea. METHODS: Monthly mortality data for an entire country was used and intervention analysis applied to compare mortality after the crisis with mortality which would have occurred if the trends before the crisis had continued. RESULTS: All cause mortality began to increase about 1 year after the crisis, while cardiovascular increased immediately. Transport accidents decreased significantly during the year following the crisis and then regressed towards the pre-economic crisis level. Suicides increased rapidly and maintained an upward trend but subsequently reduced towards the pre-economic crisis level. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown an evidence of a relationship between economic crisis and mortality.