A recent study published in the journal JAMA Health Forum highlights the escalating rates of alcohol-related complications among women, contributing to increased mortality and morbidity. The research, based on insurance claims data spanning from 2017 to 2021 and encompassing over 14 million Americans aged 15 and older, reveals a concerning trend of elevated health risks associated with alcohol consumption, particularly among women aged 40 to 64, during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background:
Dr. Timothy Naimi, director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, notes that alcohol consumption in the United States has been on the rise over the past two decades. Recent studies, including one co-authored by Dr. Naimi, have indicated a substantial increase in deaths attributed to excessive alcohol use in the country, with a nearly 30 percent rise observed between 2016 and 2021. While men historically have had higher rates of alcohol-related mortality, the gender gap is narrowing, with women experiencing a disproportionate increase in drinking-related deaths.
Research Findings:
The study focused on analyzing the prevalence of serious health complications linked to alcohol consumption, such as alcohol-related cardiovascular and liver diseases, gastric bleeding due to inflammation of the stomach lining, pancreatitis, mood disorders, and severe withdrawal symptoms. Researchers compared observed rates of these complications from insurance claims data during the pandemic period with expected rates based on historical data.
Results revealed that women aged 40 to 64 consistently exhibited higher-than-expected rates of alcohol-related liver disease, a spectrum of conditions stemming from the accumulation of fat in the liver. If left unchecked, prolonged alcohol-induced liver damage can progress to cirrhosis, characterized by the formation of scar tissue in the liver, and alcohol-associated hepatitis, marked by severe liver inflammation. While increases in alcohol-related complications were also observed among men in the same age group during the pandemic, these trends did not reach statistical significance. However, Dr. Bryant Shuey, lead author of the study and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, emphasizes that men remain vulnerable to alcohol-related health risks and should not be overlooked.
The study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and public health strategies to address the rising tide of alcohol-related harm among women, particularly in the context of evolving societal challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
