Alcohol-related mortality in Spain.

Alcohol-related mortality and years of potential life lost in Spain in 1986 have been studied according to the official statistics with regard to the population mortality in our country. 6.1% of the deaths in Spain in 1986 were related to alcohol consumption, mainly caused by malignant neoplasm (26.0%), digestive diseases (23.6%), and unintentional injuries (21.1%). Mean potential years of life lost for alcohol-related deaths until 65 was 7.3. Unintentional injuries were responsible for the greater part (61.2%) of alcohol-related years of potential life lost. The present study shows the high mortality rate associated with alcohol consumption in our country, as well as its importance in premature death.