• E Revuelta Muñoz, P Godoy García, and M Farreny Blasi.
• EAP Pla d'Urgell. Institut Català de la Salut, Lleida. erevuelta@inicia.es.
• Aten Primaria. 2002 Jun 30; 30 (2): 112118112-8.

ObjectiveTo analyse the evolution of mortality attributable to alcohol (MAA) and the potential years of life lost (PYLL) due to alcohol consumption in Catalonia between 1988 and 1997.DesignRetrospective, descriptive study of mortality.SettingCatalonia 1988-1997.ParticipantsResidents in Catalonia. Main measurements. Deaths occurring in Catalonia for the 36 causes of MAA between 1988 and 1997 were studied. The MAA, proportional mortality and the PYLL for each year were calculated on the basis of the population fractions attributable to alcohol (FPAA). Evolution of proportional mortality was studied with the chi2 test for linear trends. Evolution of the MAA and the PYLL were studied through regression straights and Pearson s correlation coefficient.Results5.5% of deaths in Catalonia between 1988 and 1997 were attributable to alcohol. Men contributed most deaths (65.8%) and PYLL (80%). Traffic accidents were the most common form of death in men (15.3%), and cerebro-vascular diseases (25.9%) in women. Traffic accidents caused most PYLL (43.3%). Both a steady reduction in proportional mortality, dropping from 6.2% in 1988 to 4.8% in 1997 (chi2=213.4; P<.00001), and a fall in the total MAA (P<.05) and PYLL (P<.05) were found.ConclusionsThere are gender differences in the numbers and most common causes of MAA. There was a steady drop in the number of MAA and PYLL during the period studied, basically due to the drop in deaths caused by traffic accidents. Similarly, proportional mortality dropped, drawing close to the 4% proposed in the Health Plan for Catalonia.

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