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Changes in alcohol-related mortality and its socioeconomic differences after a large reduction in alcohol prices: a natural experiment based on register data.
Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Nov 15; 168(10):1110-8; discussion 1126-31.AJ

Abstract

The authors examined the effect of a large reduction in the price of alcohol in Finland in 2004 on alcohol-related mortality by age and socioeconomic group. For this register-based study of Finns aged >or=15 years, data on independent variables were extracted from the employment statistics of Statistics Finland. Mortality follow-up was carried out for 2001-2003 (before the price reduction) and 2004-2005 (after). Alcohol-related causes were defined using both underlying and contributory causes of death. Alcohol-related mortality increased by 16% among men and by 31% among women; 82% of the increase was due to chronic causes, particularly liver diseases. The increase in absolute terms was largest among men aged 55-59 years and women aged 50-54 years. Among persons aged 30-59 years, it was biggest among the unemployed or early-age pensioners and those with low education, social class, or income. The relative differences in change between the education and social class subgroups were small. The employed and persons aged <35 years did not suffer from increased alcohol-related mortality during the 2 years after the change. These results imply that a large reduction in the price of alcohol led to substantial increases in alcohol-related mortality, particularly among the less privileged, and in chronic diseases associated with heavy drinking.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Herttua K
Population Research Unit, Department of Sociology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 18, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. kimmo.herttua@helsinki.fi
Mäkelä P
No affiliation info available
Martikainen P
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdolescentAdultAge DistributionAgedAlcoholismEthanolFemaleFinlandHumansMaleMiddle AgedMortalityRegistriesSex DistributionSocioeconomic Factors

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

18718894

Citation

Herttua, Kimmo, et al. "Changes in Alcohol-related Mortality and Its Socioeconomic Differences After a Large Reduction in Alcohol Prices: a Natural Experiment Based On Register Data." American Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 168, no. 10, 2008, pp. 1110-8; discussion 1126-31.
Herttua K, Mäkelä P, Martikainen P. Changes in alcohol-related mortality and its socioeconomic differences after a large reduction in alcohol prices: a natural experiment based on register data. Am J Epidemiol. 2008;168(10):1110-8; discussion 1126-31.
Herttua, K., Mäkelä, P., & Martikainen, P. (2008). Changes in alcohol-related mortality and its socioeconomic differences after a large reduction in alcohol prices: a natural experiment based on register data. American Journal of Epidemiology, 168(10), 1110-8; discussion 1126-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwn216
Herttua K, Mäkelä P, Martikainen P. Changes in Alcohol-related Mortality and Its Socioeconomic Differences After a Large Reduction in Alcohol Prices: a Natural Experiment Based On Register Data. Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Nov 15;168(10):1110-8; discussion 1126-31. PubMed PMID: 18718894.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Changes in alcohol-related mortality and its socioeconomic differences after a large reduction in alcohol prices: a natural experiment based on register data. AU - Herttua,Kimmo, AU - Mäkelä,Pia, AU - Martikainen,Pekka, Y1 - 2008/08/20/ PY - 2008/8/23/pubmed PY - 2008/11/19/medline PY - 2008/8/23/entrez SP - 1110-8; discussion 1126-31 JF - American journal of epidemiology JO - Am J Epidemiol VL - 168 IS - 10 N2 - The authors examined the effect of a large reduction in the price of alcohol in Finland in 2004 on alcohol-related mortality by age and socioeconomic group. For this register-based study of Finns aged >or=15 years, data on independent variables were extracted from the employment statistics of Statistics Finland. Mortality follow-up was carried out for 2001-2003 (before the price reduction) and 2004-2005 (after). Alcohol-related causes were defined using both underlying and contributory causes of death. Alcohol-related mortality increased by 16% among men and by 31% among women; 82% of the increase was due to chronic causes, particularly liver diseases. The increase in absolute terms was largest among men aged 55-59 years and women aged 50-54 years. Among persons aged 30-59 years, it was biggest among the unemployed or early-age pensioners and those with low education, social class, or income. The relative differences in change between the education and social class subgroups were small. The employed and persons aged <35 years did not suffer from increased alcohol-related mortality during the 2 years after the change. These results imply that a large reduction in the price of alcohol led to substantial increases in alcohol-related mortality, particularly among the less privileged, and in chronic diseases associated with heavy drinking. SN - 1476-6256 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/18718894/Changes_in_alcohol_related_mortality_and_its_socioeconomic_differences_after_a_large_reduction_in_alcohol_prices:_a_natural_experiment_based_on_register_data_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -