International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 240-243, May 2010

Differences in alcohol-related mortality between foreign-born and native-born Spaniards

  • Inmaculada Fierro

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Alcohol and Drug Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
  • ,
  • José Luis Yáñez

      Affiliations

    • Servicio Territorial de Sanidad y Bienestar Social, Sección de Epidemiología, Junta de Castilla y León, Burgos, Spain
  • ,
  • F. Javier Álvarez

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Alcohol and Drug Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +34 983 423077; fax: +34 983 423022.

Received 14 January 2009; received in revised form 13 July 2009; accepted 7 August 2009. published online 27 September 2009.

Abstract 

Background

Alcohol consumption is associated with high rates of mortality. This study aimed to analyse mortality attributable to alcohol consumption in foreign-born and native-born Spaniards in 2004 and to determine whether differences existed between these groups.

Methods

The number of deaths attributable to alcohol consumption was calculated by means of the alcohol-attributable fractions devised by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for calculating mortality rates in the USA. Alcohol-related mortality rates and age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 persons (using European standard population) were calculated by gender.

Results

The mortality rates attributable to alcohol per 100,000 inhabitants were lower among foreign-born Spaniards (7.0) than native-born Spaniards (16.7). Chronic conditions accounted for only 23.6% of all alcohol-related mortality for foreign-born Spaniards, but 60% for native-born Spaniards. The former were much more likely to suffer unintentional injuries, particularly road traffic accidents, while the latter showed high rates of alcohol-related death for digestive diseases, cardiovascular disorders, intentional injuries and malignant neoplasm.

Conclusion

Alcohol consumption is an important cause of death among the native-born Spanish population. The observed differences in alcohol-related mortality between native and foreign-born Spaniards should be considered when developing targeted harm reduction policies.

Keywords: Alcohol, Cause of death, Epidemiology, Mortality, Spain

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PII: S0955-3959(09)00117-0

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.08.006

International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume 21, Issue 3 , Pages 240-243, May 2010