Alcohol abuse catching up with coronary disease as cause of death among Finnish men

Suicide rate at record-low levels

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A record number of Finnish men of working age died of diseases and poisonings caused by the consumption of alcohol last year.
      According to mortality figures released by Statistics Finland, 1,283 men in Finland died as a cause of alcohol consumption in 2003.
      Hannu Alho, head physician at the National Public Health Institute, points out that the trend began already before the reduction in alcohol prices which took place in March this year.
     
The increase in alcohol consumption is reflected directly in the number of people referred for treatment. In the past 20 years alcohol-related deaths among men aged 45 to 69 have doubled.
     
Coronary disease has long been the most common cause of death among Finnish men. Last year 1,356 died of the disease. The trend has been declining.
      Coronary disease is the sum of many factors, and heavy drinking can be one contributor.
      Professor Erkki Vuori of the University of Helsinki notes that some studies suggest that the consumption of small amounts of alcohol can help prevent coronary disease, but he does not recommend taking up drinking for this reason.
     
Alcohol-related deaths among women have increased fourfold during the past two decades. Last year 267 women died from alcohol consumption.
      "About 20 years ago a significant number of women were teetotallers. The statistical starting point was better than among men. Equality has made women’s drinking habits more masculine. Women cannot withstand alcohol as well as men. When we compare men and women of the same weight, the water capacity of the women is smaller", Vuori explains.
      Breast cancer remains the most common cause of death among women. During this decade, breast cancer mortality has decreased.
      Alcohol-related deaths are more common among women than deaths from coronary disease.
     
The number of suicides in Finland is at a record-low level. Last year 687 men and 201 women of working age took their own lives. This is the lowest level since the late 1960s.
      Young people under the age of 20 accounted for 52 of the suicides, and 41 of these were men.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Consumption of alcohol bought in Finland increases by 7.6 percent in first half of 2004 (3.9.2004)
  Cheaper alcohol reflected in increased public drunkenness (5.5.2004)
  Programme aimed at reducing harm of increased alcohol consumption (28.4.2004)

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