Mortality rate of alcohol dependency syndrome in Chile: Analysis of the 2016-2024 period.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19424993Keywords:
Alcoholism, Mortality, Chile, Epidemiology, PsychiatryAbstract
Introduction: Alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) is a major public health problem. According to the World Health Organization, ADS causes 2.6 million deaths worldwide each year. In Chile, nearly 40% of the population over 15 years of age reports risky alcohol consumption. Despite these figures, there are few studies on mortality attributable to ADS. This study aimed to determine the mortality rate (MR) due to ADS in Chile between 2016 and 2024. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study analyzing the crude MR due to ADS in patients aged 20 years and older. Results: With 1,662 cases, the MR was 1.32 deaths per-100,000 inhabitants. An increase in MR was observed starting in 2019, with a peak in 2021 of 3.97 deaths per-100,000 inhabitants. Mortality predominated in males and in patients aged 65–79 years. The highest mortality occurred in June (10.8%), and 61.3% of deaths occurred at home. Discussion: The low mortality from ADS in Chile suggests underdiagnosis due to prioritization of the final clinical cause of death. Higher mortality in men and older adults is consistent with patterns of chronic alcohol consumption. The winter seasonal increase could be explained by pathophysiological changes secondary to alcohol use. Conclusion: Epidemiological surveillance should be strengthened to improve identification of ADS, and public policies with territorial and gender-focused approaches should be implemented.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Francisco Avilés Montecinos, Francisco Riveros Montero, Cristóbal Castillo Fredes, Sebastián Baeza Blanco, Paula Sfeir Lisboa, Bárbara Mena González (Autor/a)
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