Differences in alcohol-related mortality between foreign-born and native-born Spaniards.

Background: Alcohol consumption is associated with high rates of mortality. This study aimed to analyse mortality attributable to alcohol consumption in foreign-born and native-born Spaniards in 2004 and to determine whether differences existed between these groups.

Methods: The number of deaths attributable to alcohol consumption was calculated by means of the alcohol-attributable fractions devised by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for calculating mortality rates in the USA. Alcohol-related mortality rates and age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 persons (using European standard population) were calculated by gender.

Results: The mortality rates attributable to alcohol per 100,000 inhabitants were lower among foreign-born Spaniards (7.0) than native-born Spaniards (16.7). Chronic conditions accounted for only 23.6% of all alcohol-related mortality for foreign-born Spaniards, but 60% for native-born Spaniards. The former were much more likely to suffer unintentional injuries, particularly road traffic accidents, while the latter showed high rates of alcohol-related death for digestive diseases, cardiovascular disorders, intentional injuries and malignant neoplasm.

Conclusion: Alcohol consumption is an important cause of death among the native-born Spanish population. The observed differences in alcohol-related mortality between native and foreign-born Spaniards should be considered when developing targeted harm reduction policies.