Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Mortality Increased From 2017 to 2020 and Accelerated During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19-associated liver injury: Clinical characteristics, pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment management

“…The increase in alcohol consumption is often accompanied by an increase in emergency hospital admissions. Mortality associated with ALD increased across age, race, and sex during the US epidemic [70] , [71] . According to statistics from 257 hospitals in Japan during the epidemic, the admission rate per 1,000 people admitted for ALD or pancreatitis was 1.22 times that in the preepidemic period [72] .…”

Covid-19 and alcohol associated liver disease

“…US mortality data coincided with increases in hospitalizations. From 2019 to 2020, ALD-related mortality increased by 21% in males and 27% in females, with highest increases also in females and young adults [26] . Similar trends were also observed in other countries outside the US.…”

“…A large study of United States claims data found that the prevalence of AH and alcohol-associated pancreatitis increased substantially during the COVID-pandemic, with a higher relative increase in women and Black patients [61] . National mortality data from The Centers for Disease Control Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) demonstrated a marked acceleration in ALD-related deaths after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest relative increase in American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian men, and among American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latina women [26] . Alcohol consumption patterns aligned with ALD mortality patterns.…”

“…ALD mortality accelerated during the covid 19 pandemic, increasing more than 20% in males and females [26] …”

Coronavirus Disease-2019 and Implications on the Liver

“…In the years prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol consumption and mortality from alcohol-associated liver disease were already on the rise. 32 During the COVID-19 pandemic this rise has continued and even accelerated. Stay-at-home orders early in the pandemic led to social isolation, loss of support systems including addiction treatment programs, disruptions in work and education, and easier access to alcohol (e.g., online, takeout), all factors that likely contributed to a significant increase in alcohol consumption and alcohol-associated liver disease during the pandemic.…”