The Impact of Alcohol Consumption and Addiction on Liver Transplantation Programs in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant shifts in alcohol consumption patterns in the United States, with potential long-term implications for liver transplantation (LT) programs. Alcohol consumption has increased, particularly in women, leading to a rise in alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and alcohol use disorder. Psychological distress associated with the pandemic may further exacerbate alcohol addiction. ALD is now the most common indication for LT, with higher disease severity and complex clinical presentations, demanding a fundamental transformation in LT programs. Multidisciplinary cooperation among medical specialists, telemedicine, and remote healthcare are essential strategies to address these challenges. However, barriers to telemedicine and costs must be overcome. Curbing alcohol consumption at the societal level and bolstering mental health programs to mitigate healthcare workforce moral injury are recommended to optimize patient care in the post-COVID-19 era. Adequate planning and compassionate management of finite resources will be crucial for the successful continuation of LT programs amidst the concerning trends in alcohol consumption and addiction.

COVID-19, Possible Hepatic Pathways and Alcohol Abuse—What Do We Know up to 2023?

“…The intake of alcohol, especially during the first phase of the pandemic, turned out to be an extremely significant medical problem, with more marked harmful alcohol consumption, and this tendency was similar in different parts of the world compared to the previous year [204][205][206]. This phenomenon from everyday life was reflected by the increasing number of ALD cases together with its more severe course all over the world (e.g., in the United States, Great Britain and China) [207]. What appeared to be especially alarming, according to available data, was that the most significant group requiring LT were young adults [208][209][210][211].…”