[Alcohol-related mortality and premature death in Spain between 1999 and 2004].
OBJECTIVE
To assess alcohol-related mortality and premature death in Spain between 1999 and 2004.


METHODS
The records of deaths according to cause of death were used, grouped by age, sex and 60 diagnostic categories. The number of deaths attributable to alcohol consumption according to sex and age group, the mortality percentages, rates per 100,000 inhabitants adjusted to the European population standard, and potential years of life lost (PYLL) per alcohol-related death up to the age of 70 were calculated.


RESULTS
Alcohol-related mortality adjusted to the European population standard was 2.1%, decreasing from 1999 to 2004. Chronic causes, in general, accounted for 60% of alcohol-related mortality. Digestive system disorders, and in par ticular <<Liver cirrhosis, unspecified>>, among chronic disorders, were those conditions with the highest contributing rate. The 9.3% of all PYLL in Spain were attributable to alcohol consumption. Acute disorders (about 70% of the PYLL), were the causes that mainly contributed to premature death related to alcohol consumption, being unintentional accidents the main cause.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol consumption is an important cause of death and premature death in Spain.
Fierro
Inmaculada
I
Instituto de Estudios de Alcohol y Drogas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, España.
Ochoa
Rufina
R
Yáñez
José Luis
JL
Valderrama
Juan Carlos
JC
Alvarez
F Javier
FJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain