Measuring the health consequences of alcohol consumption: current needs and methodological challenges

Abstract

Background/aims: Extensive research has shown that alcohol consumption leads to poor health and premature death through its causal or contributing roles in numerous chronic health conditions and acute health outcomes, including various cancers, liver disease, and injuries. Paradoxically, advances in understanding of the causal associations between alcohol consumption and various conditions have complicated our ability to discern trends in the health consequences of alcohol consumption over time.

Methods: Four distinct needs for information on alcohol's role in causing adverse health outcomes are identified. Estimates of alcohol-attributable mortality from two US studies are compared and differences identified.

Results: Differences in the conditions included and alcohol-attributable fractions employed accounted for large differences in the estimated alcohol-attributable mortality for several health outcomes.

Conclusion: Despite the broad consensus on many health consequences of alcohol consumption, further research is needed to clarify the conditions that are caused by alcohol consumption, magnitudes of causal relationships, and effects of different patterns of consumption and individual characteristics. Comparisons over time are needed to identify areas where improvements in public health may be occurring or are most needed, to support evaluation of specific interventions, and to encourage the public awareness of alcohol problems that is necessary to change attitudes and behaviors involving alcohol consumption.