Variability of alcohol consumption patterns and problems across ethnic groups has been widely studied. However, the relationship between ethnicity, consumption patterns and alcohol-related mortality has received little attention. Respondents from the 1984 US National Alcohol Survey (N=5,221), which contained large oversamples of the African American and Hispanic populations were followed by searching the National Death Index. Through 1995, 540 individuals were identified as deceased and selected for in-depth analysis. Cause of death information was obtained through death certificates and ICD-9 code reports from the National Center for Health Statistics; these codes were identified as (a) containing codes with alcohol-attributable fractions (CDC/ARDI based) summing to at least .25 (52 cases); and (b) explicitly referencing alcohol (14 cases). Logistic regression analyses revealed that among those dying, age, alcohol consumption and Hispanic ethnicity significantly and independently predict deaths coded with cumulative attributable fractions of at least .25. Hispanic decedents were also considerably more likely than others to have alcohol explicitly mentioned on their death certificates (12% vs 1%; Fisher's Exact test significant at p < .001). Of the 14 alcohol specific deaths 10 had identified themselves as Hispanic (2 White and 2 African American). Although the Hispanic group was the youngest (mean age 40.7 years for alcohol-specific deaths), their alcohol-related deaths were typically associated with long-term heavy drinking (e.g., liver cirrhosis) rather than external causes (e.g., accidents).
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe ethnic variability in alcohol-related mortality. 2. Design improved interview protocols for assessment of alcohol consumption. 3. Identify potential sources of systematic error in findings concerning self-reported ethnicity and alcohol use. 4. Be aware of the potential for systematic and ethnicity-based influences on alcohol-related mortality that are not easily attributable to measurement error
Keywords: Alcohol, Mortality
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.