In the United States and around the world, alcohol consumption is a leading cause of preventable death and disability and increases liver disease, mental health disorders, and accidents.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine explored U.S. trends in alcohol-related deaths from 1999 to 2020 overall, as well as by age, gender, race and region, using the extensive data online from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publicly available. for Epidemiological Research (WONDER).
The results of the clinical research study, published in The American Journal of Medicinereveal that alcohol-related deaths in the US have increased dramatically over the past two decades, with the death rate nearly doubling from 10.7 per 100,000 in 1999 to 21.6 per 100,000 in 2020. The number Total alcohol-related deaths skyrocketed from 19,356 to 48,870, a dramatic two-fold increase. All age groups have seen increases, with the most alarming spike (almost four times greater) in those aged 25 to 34.
The 85 and older group experienced a possible but not significant increase. Additionally, people ages 55 to 64 had the steepest increase in mortality and the highest absolute rates in both 1999 and 2020. Both men and women experienced significant increases in alcohol-related deaths, but men had the highest rates in both years and saw the largest increase overall. However, women experienced the largest proportional increase, with deaths rising from 4.8 per 100,000 in 1999 to 12 in 2020.
Female deaths increased two and a half times, while Asian and Pacific Islander communities saw the steepest increase: 2.4 times. Regionally, the Midwest saw the biggest jump, with a 2.5-fold increase in alcohol-related mortality, followed by the Northeast, West and South.
“Our study found significant gender differences in alcohol-related mortality. While men had higher overall mortality rates, women experienced a greater relative increase, which may reflect changing social norms and increased focus of the alcohol industry toward women through marketing campaigns,” said Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, Ph.D., senior and corresponding author, professor and chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine at the College of FAU Schmidt Medicine. “As alcohol consumption has increased among women, so have the associated risks. Women appear to be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of alcohol due, possibly, to differences in body composition and metabolism, which “It leads to higher blood alcohol concentrations. In addition, mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, which are already more common in women, can be worsened by alcohol consumption.”
The study findings highlight important clinical and public health challenges that may benefit from targeted interventions. Risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and liver damage complicate these challenges and accelerate alcohol-related mortality. Gender, demographic, and regional differences should also guide health care strategies.
“Addressing these factors through tailored interventions could help combat the growing epidemic of alcohol mortality in the United States,” Kitsantas said.
Additionally, the study findings generate testable hypotheses for future research, which when combined with more basic studies, will allow for more informed clinical decisions and public health policies. Meanwhile, the data suggests viable solutions for healthcare providers and public health officials at all levels.
“Health care providers should recognize that excessive alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for total mortality and cardiovascular disease, especially heart attacks and strokes,” said Charles H. Hennekens, MD, FACPM, co-author. , the first Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine in the departments of medicine and population health and social medicine, and senior academic advisor, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “To mitigate these risks, it is essential to screen for alcohol consumption in primary care settings. Co-occurring conditions such as overweight and obesity can accelerate liver damage, which in turn can lead to an earlier onset of cirrhosis and liver cancer. The United States has the highest rates of overweight and obesity in the world and low levels of daily physical activity. The detrimental interaction of these factors may contribute to the observed trends in alcohol-related mortality, particularly. in younger adults.
Alcohol consumption varies significantly by region around the world and in the US. According to 2019 data, Latvia had the highest annual per capita consumption at 13.2 liters, followed by France at 12.2 and the US .US with 10. Descriptive data on mortality reveal complex links between alcohol consumption and premature deaths. Latvia, for example, leads in alcohol consumption and ranks third in total deaths, while France, despite high alcohol consumption, has low cardiovascular mortality but high rates of cirrhosis and liver cancer. On the contrary, Russian men have a high alcohol consumption and a high cardiovascular mortality rate. These patterns illustrate the complex interrelationships between alcohol consumption, premature death and disease, regardless of the type of drink.
“Both globally and in the United States, high levels of alcohol consumption are closely linked to premature death and disability,” Hennekens said. “The difference between consuming small amounts of alcohol daily and larger amounts could be the difference between preventing and causing premature death. One immediate effect of alcohol is liver damage, and in the US, rising rates of obesity and diabetes They also contribute to early liver damage.
The authors say health care providers should be aware that in the US, as well as in most populations around the world, people who consume large amounts of alcohol tend to have the highest mortality risks , as well as deaths from cardiovascular diseases, which are predominantly due to heart attacks and strokes.
Co-authors are Alexandra Matarazzo, first author and second-year FAU medical student; John Dunn, second-year FAU medical student; Katerina Benson, a third-year pre-med student at FAU; Yanna Willett, a third-year pre-med student at Virginia Tech; Robert S. Levine, MD, FACPM, affiliate professor of family medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine; and María C. Mejía, MD, professor in the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine at the FAU Schmidt College of Medicine.