New research suggests a troubling trend for American public health: deaths from alcoholic cirrhosis have more than tripled over the past 20 years, with almost 24,000 Americans dying from the condition in 2019, up from just over 6,000 in 1999.
Alcoholic cirrhosis, a severe form of liver disease caused by alcohol, now accounts for one-third of all liver transplants in the US.
Factors Accelerating Liver Disease
The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Charles Hennekens from Florida Atlantic University, believes that increased alcohol consumption from an early age and unhealthy lifestyle habits like overeating and lack of physical activity are accelerating the damage to the liver.
“Obesity and lack of exercise lead to fatty liver, the same kind of thing that alcohol does,” said Dr. Hennekens.
“So, we’re seeing more liver disease earlier, not just because people are drinking more, but also because they’re eating more and exercising less.”
Alcohol Consumption Recommendations
In light of the study’s findings, Dr. Hennekens advises men to limit alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day, while women should limit it to one.
He emphasized the importance of medical professionals educating their patients about the risks associated with heavy drinking, including cirrhosis and heart disease.
“While one to two drinks daily may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to nondrinkers, the difference between drinking smaller and larger amounts of alcohol can mean the difference between preventing and causing premature death,” Dr. Hennekens said.
Rising Deaths Across Age Groups
Using data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study showed statistically significant increases in deaths from alcoholic cirrhosis across all age groups from 25 years old and up.
The most alarming increase was a sevenfold rise among 24 to 35-year-olds, with a steep rise also seen in those aged 65 to 74.
Call for More Effective Treatments and Prevention
The study highlights the urgency for better identification of individuals at high risk of developing liver disease and the implementation of more effective treatments for alcohol use disorder.
Dr. Tiffany Wu, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, stresses the need for innovative solutions such as digital platforms and technology to personalize treatment and prevention.
She points out that barriers to care include other medical conditions, the stigma associated with addiction, and limited access to care.
These problems have been exacerbated by the pandemic. “Although effective treatments are available for alcohol use disorder, they are currently underutilized,” Dr. Wu said.
The findings of this study were recently published online in the American Journal of Medicine.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about a diet that can treat fatty liver disease and obesity, and coffee drinkers may halve their risk of liver cancer.
For more information about liver health, please see recent studies that anti-inflammatory diet could help prevent fatty liver disease, and results showing vitamin D could help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The study was published in The American Journal of Medicine.
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