The Role of Alcohol Use and Drinking Patterns in Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mortality: A Systematic Review
Research article
Abstract
Background
Individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES) experience disproportionately greater alcohol-attributable health harm than individuals with high SES from similar or lower amounts of alcohol consumption. This study aimed to provide an update of the current evidence for the role of alcohol use and alcohol use patterns in socioeconomic inequalities in mortality, as well as the effect modification or interaction effects between SES and alcohol use, as two potential explanations of this so-called alcohol-harm paradox.
Methods
The researchers did a systematic review, searching Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (published between Jan 1, 2013, and June 30, 2019) for studies reporting alcohol consumption, SES, and mortality. Observational, quantitative studies of the general adult population (aged ≥15 years) with a longitudinal study design were included. Two outcome measures were extracted: first, the proportion of socioeconomic inequalities in mortality explained by alcohol use; and second, the effect modification or interaction between SES and alcohol use regarding mortality risks. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019140279).
Findings
Of 1941 records identified, ten met the inclusion criteria. The included studies contained more than 400 000 adults, more than 30 000 deaths from all causes, and more than 3000 100% alcohol-attributable events. Alcohol use explained up to 27% of the socioeconomic inequalities in mortality. The proportion of socioeconomic inequalities explained systematically differed by alcohol use pattern, with heavy episodic alcohol use having a potentially significant explanatory value. Although scarce, there was some evidence of effect modification or interaction between SES and alcohol use.
Interpretation
To reduce socioeconomic inequalities in mortality, addressing heavy episodic alcohol use in particular, rather than alcohol use in general, is worth exploring as a public health strategy.