Abstract

ALSEDA GRAELLS, Miquel  and  GODOY GARCIA, Pere. Alcohol-related mortality in Catalonia, 1994. Rev. Esp. Salud Publica [online]. 1998, vol.72, n.1, pp.25-31. ISSN 2173-9110.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to asses the contribution of alcohol consumption to mortality in Catalonia (Spain) during 1994, as well as its importance in premature death. METHODS: In this study we have used the data of causes of death from Servei d'Informació i Estudis de la Direcció General de Recursos Sanitaris del Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social de Catalunya. The alcohol-related fractions are based in fractions used to estimate alcohol-related mortality in the United States in 1987. RESULTS: 5.3% of the deaths in Catalonia in 1994 were related to alcohol consumption. This mortality was 6.5% among males and 3.9% among females. The diagnostic category that most contributed to the number of deaths was malignant neoplasm (29.3%). The study of premature death shows that unintentional injuries are the most important cause (52.3%). In this diagnostic category, motor vehicle accidents were responsible for most of the years of potential life lost (YPLL). On average, each alcohol-related death was associated with 7.5 YPLL before age 65. CONCLUSIONS: The results shows the magnitude that alcohol has as a problem of public health in Catalonia.

Keywords : Alcohol; Alcohol premature death; Catalonia (Spain); Accidents traffic; Epidemiologic investigation; Cerebrovascular disease; Cancer.

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