Changes in mortality due to major alcohol-related diseases in four Nordic countries, France and Germany between 1980 and 2009: a comparative age-period-cohort analysis

Abstract

Strong period effects suggest that temporal changes in alcohol-related mortality in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, France and Germany between 1980 and 2009 were related to secular differences affecting the whole population and that these effects differed across countries.

Mortality from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in Western Europe over the last 40 years

“…This notwithstanding, changes in lifestyle habits occur over decades, and this aspect may explain variations that exist among countries, even if they have similar alcohol use habits. 40 How can we explain such a marked reduction in LC mortality in all the other countries analysed in this study? It is possible that successful antiviral therapy for hepatitis B, and C, helped reduce LC mortality.…”

“…The same situation for alcohol consumption could explain the situations in Finland and Ireland, although drinking patterns differ. This notwithstanding, changes in lifestyle habits occur over decades, and this aspect may explain variations that exist among countries, even if they have similar alcohol use habits …”

The contribution of education, social class and economic activity to the income–mortality association in alcohol‐related and other mortality in Finland in 1988–2012

“…Mortality to alcohol-related causes has increased in several European countries in recent decades [10,11]. In Finland, the widening gap between income quintiles in total mortality has been shown to be largely attributable to increased alcohol-related mortality in the lowest quintile particularly among under 65-year-olds [6,12].…”

Trends in alcohol‐related mortality in East and West Germany, 1980–2014: age, period and cohort variations

“…The most part of the diseases fully attributable to alcohol is due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis and alcohol dependence which require a longer life‐time history of heavy consumption. The age effect seems to be relatively unaffected by period and cohort changes and is comparable in different countries . It is, however, interesting to note that the mean age at death of patients with an alcohol‐related disorder increased in Germany between 1980 and 2005 from 53.1 to 58.4 years .…”

“…Unfortunately, studies examining long‐term trends of alcohol‐related mortality in East and West Germany are not available. A recent age–period–cohort (APC) analysis conducted in six European countries presented results for the period 1980–2009, but included Germany as a whole . In this study, overall alcohol‐related mortality increased up to age 55–59 years and decreased thereafter.…”