Research report
Mortality in England and Wales attributable to current alcohol
consumption
A Brittona, K McPhersonb
a Health
Promotion Research Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK, b Cancer and Public Health Unit, London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Correspondence to: Annie Britton (annie.britton{at}lshtm.ac.uk)
Accepted for publication 1 February 2001
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To
estimate the number of deaths attributable to current alcohol
consumption levels in England and Wales by age and sex.
DESIGNEpidemiological
approach using published relative risks and population data.
SETTINGEngland and Wales.
MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURESNumbers of deaths by age and sex and
years of life lost for alcohol related conditions.
RESULTSBecause of the
cardioprotective properties of alcohol, it is estimated that there are
approximately 2% fewer deaths annually in England and Wales than would
be expected in a non-drinking population. This proportion varies
greatly by age and sex and only among men aged over 55 years and women
aged over 65 years is there likely to be found a net favourable
mortality balance. It is also estimated that there were approximately
75 000 premature years of life lost in England and Wales in 1996 attributable to alcohol consumption. The main causes of alcohol
attributable mortality among the young include road traffic fatalities,
suicide and alcoholic liver disease.
CONCLUSIONSAt a
population level, current alcohol consumption in England and Wales may
marginally reduce mortality. However, the benefit is disproportionately
found among the elderly. Estimating alcohol attributable mortality by
age and sex may be a useful indicator for developing alcohol
strategies. More research into the possible effect modifications of
pattern of consumption, beverage type, age and gender will enable these
estimates to be improved.
Keywords: alcohol consumption; mortality
© 2001 by Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
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