Alcohol-related Mortality in Catalonia, 1994

Abstract

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.