Cause-specific Mortality in Patients Treated for Alcohol Use Disorders in State-Run Services in Novosibirsk, Russia

Abstract

Aims: To analyze disparities in age at death and cause-specific mortality in a sample of patients registered with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in state-run addiction treatment centers in Novosibirsk, Russia. Methods: Database: 92,269 deaths recorded by medical facilities in Novosibirsk between 2000 and 2010, comprising cause of death (per ICD-10), sex, and date of birth and death. Average age at death and proportion of cause-specific deaths were compared between patients (n =1,762) treated for AUDs as a primary diagnosis and the general population, the latter derived from deaths recorded by all medical facilities.Results: The average age at death was significantly lower (p < .001) in patients compared with the general population; men lived, on average, 8.4 years fewer; for women, this difference was 19.7 years. The pronounced gender gap in age at death in the general population (12.7 years) disappeared in the patient sample. They incurred proportionally more deaths because of infectious diseases, injuries, poisonings, diseases of the digestive system, and certain cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathies. They incurred proportionally fewer deaths due to chronic ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular diseases, and neoplasms.Conclusions: Compared to the general population, cause-specific mortality in AUD patients was high in categories largely contributing to a premature death. Specific measures including screenings for alcohol problems in primary health care and early interventions to reduce level of drinking should be a priority.