ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND MORTALITY FROM ALCOHOL-RELATED CONDITIONS IN SELECTED COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN REGION
Background. The relationship between alcohol consumption and the health consequences of the population is shown in many studies. It is proved that this relationship is determined not only by the general level of consumption, but also by the model of alcohol consumption in the population. Aim. To study the relationship between volume and structure of alcohol consumption by the population of the European region with mortality rates in these countries and estimate the possibility of using these index as an indicator of alcoholic ill-being. Methods. A comparative statistic analysis of connection between volume and structure of alcohol consumption by the population of the European region with standardized mortality rates of the population from some noncommunicable diseases and injuries. The analysis includes data for the European region. The Spearman correlation analysis was performed. The strength of the communication was evaluated on the Caddock scale. Results. It is shown that the character of the model of alcohol consumption in the population, the level of consumed strong spirits and its specific gravity in the structure of total consumption are associated with some health indexes of the population by a direct correlation of average strength. The variables characterizing the consumption of alcoholic spirits in men and women are associated with the standardized death rate from diseases of the circulatory system by a high correlation link r = 0.790 and r = 0.743, respectively, from injuries r = 0.693 and r = 0.612 respectively. The relationship between alcohol consumption and oncology was found only in men (r = 0.411). The relationship of average strength was found between the value of per capita consumption of strong spirits and the analyzed standardized mortality rates: for standardized mortality rates from diseases of the circulatory system in men and women r = 0.607 and r = 0.528, respectively, for injuries (poisonings) r = 0.593 and r = 0.403, respectively. Conclusion. The index of consumption of strong spirits and the share of strong spirits in common structure of alcohol consumption in the population can be used as index of alcoholic ill-being at the country level.