Original scientific paper

THE EFFECTS OF BEVERAGE TYPE ON SUICIDE RATE IN RUSSIA

Yury E. Razvodovsky ; Grodno State Medical University, Grodno, Belarus

Abstract

Background: Research evidence has suggested that the consumption of different types of alcoholic beverage may have a
differential effect on suicide rate. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between the consumption of different beverage
types and suicide rates in Russia.
Subjects and methods: Age-standardized sex- and age-specific suicide rate for the period 1980-2005 and data on beveragespecific
alcohol sale were obtained from the Russian State Statistical Committee. Time-series analytical modeling techniques
(ARIMA) were used to examine the relationship between the sale of different alcoholic beverages and suicide rates.
Results: Vodka consumption as measured by sale was significantly associated with both male and female suicide rate. The
consumption of beer and wine were not associated with suicide rate. The estimates of the age specific models for men were positive
(except for the 75+ age group) and ranging from 0.069 (60-74 age group) to 0.123 (30-44 age group). The estimates for women were
positive for the 15-29 age group (0.08), 30-44 age group (0.096) and 45-59 age group (0.057).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that public health efforts should focus on both reducing overall consumption and changing
beverage preference away from distilled spirits in order to reduce suicide rate in Russia.

Keywords

beverage specific alcohol sale; suicide; ARIMA time series analysis; Russia; 1980-2005

Hrčak ID:

76847

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/76847

Publication date:

31.12.2011.

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