[Alcohol and liver cirrhosis in Switzerland]

Abstract

The question wheter in Switzerland, too, there exists an association between alcoholism and cirrhosis of the liver was examind by the use of Federal Statistics. E.M. Jellinek devised an internationally applicable formula which shows a linear relationship between these two conditions. Three hypotheses were tested to validate the assumption that there are no alternate causes of cirrhosis of the liver. The results show: a) that in Switzerland as elsewhere, a direct relationship exists only between alcoholism and cirrhosis of the liver; b) that, in consequence, other causes of the condition have only small significance; c) that mortality from cirrhosis shows a distinct sex difference, with a surprisingly great increase amongst women in recent years.