Thorarinn Tyrfingsson1, Sigurdur Olafsson2, Einar Stefan Bjornsson3, Vilhjalmur Rafnsson4. 1. 1 SAA -National Center of Addiction Medicine, Reykjavik, Iceland. 2. 2 The National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. 3. 2 The National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland 3 University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. 4. 4 Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland vilraf@hi.is.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The objectives were to study alcohol consumption per capita and liver cirrhosis mortality in the population of Iceland. METHODS: The Statistic Iceland website supplied alcohol sales figures and death rates. RESULTS: The alcohol consumption increased 30% during the study period 1982-2009, because of increase in beer and wine, and decrease in spirits consumption. Chronic liver cirrhosis mortality increased significantly for men when comparing the 1982-88 rates (before beer ban was lifted) with the rates for 2003-09. CONCLUSION: The findings do not support the suggestion that spirits consumption rather than the total alcohol consumption affect the cirrhosis mortality.
BACKGROUND: The objectives were to study alcohol consumption per capita and liver cirrhosis mortality in the population of Iceland. METHODS: The Statistic Iceland website supplied alcohol sales figures and death rates. RESULTS: The alcohol consumption increased 30% during the study period 1982-2009, because of increase in beer and wine, and decrease in spirits consumption. Chronic liver cirrhosis mortality increased significantly for men when comparing the 1982-88 rates (before beer ban was lifted) with the rates for 2003-09. CONCLUSION: The findings do not support the suggestion that spirits consumption rather than the total alcohol consumption affect the cirrhosis mortality.