Relation between average alcohol consumption and disease: an overview.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct an overview of alcohol-related health consequences and to estimate relative risk for chronic consequences and attributable fractions for acute consequences.


METHODS
Identification of alcohol-related consequences was performed by means of reviewing and evaluating large-scale epidemiological studies and reviews on alcohol and health, including epidemiological contributions to major social cost studies. Relative risks and alcohol-attributable fractions were drawn from the international literature and risk estimates were updated, whenever possible, by means of meta-analytical techniques.


RESULTS
More than 60 health consequences were identified for which a causal link between alcohol consumption and outcome can be assumed.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research on alcohol-related health consequences should focus on standardization of exposure measures and take into consideration both average volume of consumption and patterns of drinking.
Gutjahr
E
E
Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Gmel
G
G
Rehm
J
J
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020751:Alcohol-Induced Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index