Alcohol-Attributable Mortality and Morbidity in Canada

Researchers in this study aimed to show the impact of alcohol use on chronic diseases in Canada. They linked information from the literature with national statistics on mortality and morbidity, hospitalization data, and results from a national addiction survey.

In Canada in 2002, the following consequences were attributable to alcohol consumption among adults aged 69 and younger:

• A net* of 1631 chronic disease deaths (mostly from cancer or digestive diseases), constituting 2.4% of all deaths for this age group
• 42,996 years of life lost prematurely
• A net of 91,970 hospitalizations, mostly for neuropsychiatric conditions and cardiovascular disease

Moderate drinking (<1.5 drinks per day for women, <3 for men) was associated with 25% of the deaths caused by alcohol and 85% of the deaths prevented by alcohol.

Comments:

These data highlight the significant role drinking alcohol, even moderately, plays in chronic disease and death. Far-reaching interventions are needed to reduce the public health burden caused by alcohol in Canada and in other countries.

Richard Saitz, MD, MPH
Rosanne T. Guerriero, MPH

Reference:

Rehm J, Giesbrecht N, Patra J, et al. Estimating chronic disease deaths and hospitalizations due to alcohol use in Canada in 2002: implications for policy and prevention strategies. Prev Chronic Dis. 2006;3(4).