Tuija Martelin1, Pia Mäkelä, Tapani Valkonen. 1. National Public Health Institute (KTL), Department of Health and Functional Capacity, Helsinki, Finland. tuija.mertelin@ktl.fi
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In comparison to most other countries in Western Europe, Finland ranks high with regard to male excess mortality. This study examined the contribution of smoking and alcohol to the gender difference in mortality in Finland during 1991-93 among the population aged 15 or over. METHODS: The study is based on data from linked registers. The number of alcohol-related deaths was assessed on the basis of information included in the death certificate, while the conventional method of population attributable fraction was applied to estimate the aggregated contribution of smoking. In combining the effects of alcohol and smoking, three alternative assumptions of their overlap were used. RESULTS: Approximately 51-56% of the gender difference of 7.6 years in the life expectancy at age 15 was estimated to be attributable to alcohol or smoking, depending on the assumption about the overlap of the contribution of alcohol and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the important role of alcohol and smoking as a mechanism contributing to the difference in mortality between men and women in Finland.
BACKGROUND: In comparison to most other countries in Western Europe, Finland ranks high with regard to male excess mortality. This study examined the contribution of smoking and alcohol to the gender difference in mortality in Finland during 1991-93 among the population aged 15 or over. METHODS: The study is based on data from linked registers. The number of alcohol-related deaths was assessed on the basis of information included in the death certificate, while the conventional method of population attributable fraction was applied to estimate the aggregated contribution of smoking. In combining the effects of alcohol and smoking, three alternative assumptions of their overlap were used. RESULTS: Approximately 51-56% of the gender difference of 7.6 years in the life expectancy at age 15 was estimated to be attributable to alcohol or smoking, depending on the assumption about the overlap of the contribution of alcohol and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the important role of alcohol and smoking as a mechanism contributing to the difference in mortality between men and women in Finland.
Authors: Rune Lindahl-Jacobsen; Roland Rau; Bernard Jeune; Vladimir Canudas-Romo; Adam Lenart; Kaare Christensen; James W Vaupel Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2016-03-28 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Alison K McCallum; Kristiina Manderbacka; Martti Arffman; Alastair H Leyland; Ilmo Keskimäki Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2013-01-03 Impact factor: 2.655