Living Alone and Alcohol-Related Mortality in Finland
Author Information
Author(s): Kimmo Herttua, Pekka Martikainen, Jussi Vahtera, Mika Kivimäki
Primary Institution: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
Hypothesis
Is living alone associated with an increased risk of alcohol-related mortality?
Conclusion
Living alone significantly increases the risk of alcohol-related mortality, especially after a reduction in alcohol prices in Finland.
Supporting Evidence
- Living alone was associated with a 3.7 times higher risk of liver disease mortality in men before the price reduction.
- After the price reduction, the risk ratio for liver disease mortality in men living alone increased to 4.9.
- Women living alone had a risk ratio of 1.7 for liver disease mortality before the price reduction, increasing to 2.4 after.
Takeaway
People who live alone are more likely to die from alcohol-related issues, especially when alcohol becomes cheaper.
Methodology
A population-based natural experimental study using national registers to analyze alcohol-related mortality before and after a price reduction in alcohol.
Potential Biases
Potential coding artefacts in death certificates were assessed and found unlikely to bias results.
Limitations
The study cannot determine if living alone is a cause or consequence of alcohol abuse.
Participant Demographics
Finnish population aged 15-79, with a focus on those living alone versus married or cohabiting.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 3.3, 4.1
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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