Alcohol psychoses and all-cause mortality in Belarus

Background: The burden of alcohol-related problems in central and eastern Europe is the highest in the world. The level of alcohol consumption in Belarus is among the highest in the world, with an annual consumption rate estimated to be 14 litres of pure alcohol per capita. The social, economic and political turmoil that Belarus has experiences in the years following the dissolution of the Soviet Union has been accompanied by a substantial rise in all-cause mortality. Although alcohol seems to be an important contributor to the burden of disease in the former Soviet republics, little systematic research has been undertaken on its impact on all-cause mortality in Belarus. Aims: The aim of the present study was to address this particular deficit concerning the alcohol-total mortality relationship in Belarus by using aggregate-level data. Method: Trends in the all-cause mortality and alcohol psychoses incidence rates (as a proxy for alcohol consumption) from 1970 to 2005 were analyzed employing ABIMA time series analysis in order to asses bivariate relationship between the two time series. Results: The results of time series analysis suggest a close relationship between all-cause mortality and alcohol psychoses rates at the aggregate level. Conclusions: This study replicates the previous findings that suggested close link between alcohol and mortality. The outcome of present study also supports the hypothesis that alcohol is a crucial factor of mortality crisis in Belarus. Therefore, alcohol control must be a key priority for Belorussian public health policy.