Health Inequality as the Consequence of Drinking and Smoking in Case of the Czech Republic

Abstract

Background: Drinking and smoking have economic consequences and are the main risk factors of mortality and morbidity. Disease-specific deaths attributable to using substances present the primary health indicator in this study. This analysis focuses on mortality in productive age, 15 to 64 years since those deaths are considered the highest economic burden. Method: In the analytical part, data from the Registry of deaths of the Czech Republic for 1994 to 2017 were used. The number of deaths attributable to smoking and drinking was calculated using attributable fractions, based on literature review. This research aimed to reveal the gender differences in deaths attributable to drinking and smoking, according to age, and the differences in deaths regarding smoking or drinking. Results: The mortality attributable to smoking and drinking differs across age groups and genders. The highest median share of tobacco-related deaths is in the age group, 60—64 years. The highest median share of alcoholic deaths is in the age group of 50—54 years. Conclusions: There are significant differences between genders in both, smoking and drinking. A prevention program should be targeted to different age groups.

Health Literacy, Self-Perceived Health, and Substance Use Behavior among Young People with Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders

“…Harmful substance use is causally linked to hundreds of physical and mental illnesses and is, therefore, classified among the greatest risk factors for preventable morbidity and mortality [ 3 , 4 ]. Morbidity and mortality related to substance use also affect economic parameters, e.g., in the form of lost productivity and higher cost of diagnostic and treatment processes [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]; total expenditure attributable to alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and gambling is estimated at up to 3.05–3.15% of GDP in the Czech Republic [ 8 ]. However, harmful substance use not only has negative health consequences but also affects social and family relationships, whose quantification for individuals and society is methodologically highly complex [ 9 ].…”