[Mortality attributable to alcohol in Catalonia and its provinces]

To calculate the contribution of alcohol consumption to mortality in Catalonia in 1997, and its impact on premature mortality. To evaluate whether inter-provincial differences exist.

Descriptive ecological study.

Catalonia.

Deaths of residents of Catalonia in 1997 for a cause related to excess alcohol consumption.

The data on the causes of death in Catalonia in 1997 were provided by the Catalonia Death Register. The population fractions attributable to alcohol used were those recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control in 1987. Mortality attributable to alcohol and the potential years of life lost were calculated for Catalonia as a whole and province by province. 4.8% of mortality in Catalonia in 1997 was related to excessive alcohol consumption. Mortality was higher in men (6.0%) than in women (3.5%). By diagnostic groups, malignant neoplasms (29.9%) contributed to the greatest number of deaths attributable to alcohol, whereas non-intentional accidents was the greatest cause of premature death (50.9%). As a specific cause, the greatest number of potential years of life lost was due to motor vehicle accidents. The highest mortality rate due to alcohol in non-intentional accidents and the lowest risk of death from digestive diseases were in all the provinces rather than in Barcelona.

This study highlighted the importance of alcohol in the mortality figures, its contribution to premature death and the existence of major differences depending on the province of residence, especially in non-intentional accidents.