Can alcohol control policies reduce cirrhosis mortality? An interrupted time‐series analysis in Lithuania

摘要

Abstract Background and Aims The relationship between alcohol consumption and cirrhosis is well established. Policies that can influence population‐level use of alcohol should, in turn, impact cirrhosis. We examined the effect of population‐level alcohol control policies on cirrhosis mortality rates in Lithuania – a high‐income European Union country with high levels of alcohol consumption. Methods Age‐standardized, monthly liver mortality data (deaths per 100,000 adults, aged 15+) from Lithuania were analysed from 2001 to 2018 (n?=?216?months) while controlling for economic confounders (gross domestic product and inflation). An interrupted time‐series analysis was conducted to estimate the effect of three alcohol control policies implemented in 2008, 2017 and 2018 and the number of cirrhosis deaths averted. Results There was a significant effect of the 2008 (P?