Objective: To describe mortality from diseases, conditions, and injuries for which alcohol consumption is a necessary cause during the 2010-2012 triennium in Brazil.
Methods: A descriptive study was conducted with data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health's Mortality Information System (SIM). The analysis included deaths whose primary cause was classified as any of the 78 codes of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) corresponding to the diseases, conditions, and injuries for which the use of alcohol is a necessary cause.
Results: Deaths with alcohol consumption as a necessary cause totaled 55 380 (88.5% in men). The crude mortality rate for the triennium was 9.6/100 000 people in the overall population, 17.35/100 000 men in males, and 2.15/100 000 women in females. Higher mortality rates were observed in the 50-59 year (28.45) and 60-69 year (27.23) age groups and among people with black or brown skin color (10.15). The Northeast (11.70) and Midwest (11.04) regions exhibited higher age-adjusted mortality rates. Liver diseases were the leading cause of death (55.3%).
Conclusions: Mortality from causes related to alcohol consumption is high in Brazil, especially among men, people aged 50-69 years, and residents in the Northeast and Midwest regions.