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Alcoholic mortality: a 12-year follow-up
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
|January 1, 1978
Summary
This study tracked alcoholic mortality, finding higher case fatality rates (CFR) in the first six years. Leading causes included cardiovascular disease, violence, and cirrhosis, with violent deaths more common in younger individuals.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Alcohol-Related Research
Background:
- Alcoholism poses significant public health challenges, impacting mortality rates.
- Understanding mortality patterns in individuals with alcohol use disorders is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mortality patterns in a cohort of individuals with alcohol use disorders.
- To identify key causes of death and their relationship with time since admission and age at death.
Main Methods:
- Followed five cohorts (100 members each) for 4 to 12 years.
- Recorded time, cause, and age at death for 133 deceased individuals.
- Calculated overall case fatality rate (CFR) and analyzed cause-specific mortality.
Main Results:
- The overall case fatality rate (CFR) was 0.0371.
- Higher CFRs were observed within the first 6 years of follow-up.
- Leading causes of death included cardiovascular disease, violence (homicide, suicide, accidental), cirrhosis, carcinomas, and acute intoxication.
- Violent deaths were more prevalent in younger admission age groups, while the cardiovascular/other death ratio increased in older admission age groups.
Conclusions:
- Mortality risk is elevated in individuals with alcohol use disorders, particularly in the initial years post-admission.
- Causes of death vary significantly by age group, with violence prominent in younger individuals and cardiovascular issues in older ones.
- These findings underscore the need for age-specific and cause-specific health interventions for this population.