Abstract
To analyze the temporal trend of the prevalence of alcohol abuse among adults in Brazilian capitals, between 2006 and 2019. Time series study, based on data from the Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel), between 2006 and 2019. The population consisted of adults (≥ 18 years old) with landline telephone residing in Brazilian capitals. The trend analysis was performed by linear regression. Between 2006 and 2019 there was a significant increase (p = 0.03) in the abusive consumption of alcoholic beverages in the total adult population, from 15.6 to 18.8%. Among men, there was a stability trend (p = 0.96), and among women, there was an increase from 7.7 to 13.3% (p < 0.001; β = 0.295). In the male gender stratified by capitals, from 2006 to 2019 there was a reduction in Belém, Fortaleza, João Pessoa, Macapá, Manaus, Natal, Recife, São Luis, and Teresina. On the other hand, there was growth in the Federal District. Among women, the trend was upward in: Aracaju, Belo Horizonte, Cuiabá, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Goiânia, Palmas, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Paulo, Vitória, and the Federal District. The results indicate that more adult women are currently drinking in excess compared to previous years, suggesting an increased risk of alcohol-related harm in this portion of the population in Brazilian capitals, bringing about a convergence effect with the prevalence among men and women.
Highlights
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is an encouraged behavior in most cultures due to celebrations, socialization, religious ceremonies and other practices and social events[1,2]; alcohol is a major public health issue[1,2,3], since its chronic use can cause harm and dependence, resulting in mental, liver, heart diseases, neoplasm, among others
The study pointed to an upward trend in alcohol abuse in the total population and among women, maintaining stable among men
Abusive alcohol consumption in a short period of time may result in severe events, such as violence, traffic accidents, accidents in general, alcohol poisoning, unsafe sex, unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases[2,19]
Summary
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is an encouraged behavior in most cultures due to celebrations, socialization, religious ceremonies and other practices and social events[1,2]; alcohol is a major public health issue[1,2,3], since its chronic use can cause harm and dependence, resulting in mental, liver, heart diseases, neoplasm, among others. The problems coming from the episodic and acute use constitute a significant risk factor for violence (aggression, homicide, suicide), traffic and work accidents etc.[3,4,5]. It leads to a global economic cost that surpasses 1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of middle and high income countries[6]. In Brazil, alcohol consumption was the sixth risk factor for loss of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2019, leading to 3,716,649 million (5.69%) DALYs7,8
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