Alcohol consumption impact on premature mortality in Romania

F. Furtunescu, D.G. Minca, A. Vasile, C. Domnariu

Abstract: Alcohol consumption is the third major risk factor for the “ill health” in EU, after tobacco and blood pressure, accounting of 7.2 % of the total burden of diseases (12% in males and 2% in females). The aim of this study is to underline the effects of alcohol drinking on the Romanians’ health, in order to mobilize the national stakeholders for developing a long-term cross-sectoral strategy on alcohol control. A descriptive approach was done based on regular data from national and international public databases. The effect of alcohol drinking on health status was evaluated through alcohol consumption (no. of pure alcohol liters per capita and per year and prevalence of alcohol drinkers) and alcohol attributable mortality measured as number of deaths and as number of potential years of life lost. Alcohol consumption has an important impact on the health status of the Romanian population in terms of number of deaths and of years of life lost, accounting around 20000 deaths in 2002 and 12 years of life lost per each death. Synergic measures are required to control this problem, in line with the EU strategy, but taking into consideration the national context.
Keywords: alcohol consumption, drinking pattern, alcohol attributable deaths