Premature mortality attributable to preventable risk factors in Hungary

INTRODUCTION: Premature mortality among the working-age population represents a major public health and economic challenge in Hungary. A substantial proportion of premature deaths is attributable to preventable risk factors, highlighting the importance of identifying priorities for prevention. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess mortality attributable to major preventable risk factors among Hungarians aged 30-64 years and to compare the findings with data from the Visegrád countries and Austria. METHOD: The analysis was based on data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study. Mortality data for the 30-64-year age group were analyzed according to five major risk factors: smoking, dietary risks, alcohol use, high body mass index, and low physical activity. International comparisons were performed using age-standardized mortality rates. RESULTS: Among the studied age group, 54% of female deaths and 65% of male deaths were attributable to the examined risk factors. Smoking was the leading risk factor in both sexes, followed by dietary risks. Alcohol-attributable mortality among men was more than five times higher than among women. Hungary showed the highest mortality attributable to risk factors among all countries included in the comparison. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a substantial proportion of premature mortality among the Hungarian working-age population is attributable to a limited number of preventable risk factors. Considerable health, economic, and social gains may therefore be achieved through targeted prevention strategies and through the integrated strengthening of primary and secondary prevention. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(41): 1655-1663.