Alcohol Consumption and Gender Gap in All-cause Mortality in Russia

Abstract

Background: There is extensive research literature that claims women have a mortality advantage compared to men in all developed countries. Russia has one of the highest differences in mortality between the sexes when compared to European Union countries. Objective: This study aims to test the hypothesis of alcohol consumption as a risk factor in regards to the gender gap in all-cause mortality in Russia. Method: Time-series Analytical Modelling Techniques (ARIMA) was used to examine the relation between the gender gap in all-cause mortality and trends in alcohol consumption per capita. Results: The results of the analysis also suggest that 54.6% of the difference in all-cause mortality rates between males and females in Russia could be attributed to alcohol. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study provide indirect support for the hypothesis that alcohol is a major contributor to the high gender gap in all-cause mortality and its dramatic fluctuations in Russia during the last few decades.