[Epidemiological study on alcohol consumption and physical health in the Kitakyushu area with special reference to...

Kitakyushu city is characterized by the following aspects, that is a large amount of alcohol consumption relative to other cities high death rate of liver cirrhosis and chronic liver diseases many recipients of the Daily Life Security a large population of aged people. This study was carried out to investigate the interrelation of industrial structure and drinking status of people living under these situations in Kitakyushu. The close association between drinking and liver diseases was found. Furthermore, a large proportion of drinkers were recipients of the Daily Life Security and this is one of the problems to be resolved. It also became clear that it is not easy to stop drinking for habitual drinkers in spite of the presence of liver diseases and the loss of feeling of satisfaction with life which may be triggered by retirement from job possibly hampers them from problem drinking. With an increase of a population of aged, an increase of alcoholism among them may cause serious, local but social problems. These problems may not be resolved only by the effort of clinical medicine, also macroscopical point of views through social structure, industrial structure, a policy of welfare, public health services etc. are required. A part of the study was presented at the 17th, 18th and 19th Conference of Japanese Medical Society of Alcohol Studies.