Consuming alcohol during pandemic linked to more liver disease, deaths Study

Dec 27, 2021

New Delhi, Dec 27 (ANI): Researchers have projected the rates of liver disease and associated deaths due to increased alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research has been published in the 'Hepatology Journal'.A team led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital used data from a national survey of US adults on their drinking habits that found that excessive drinking (such as binge drinking) increased by 21 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic.The scientists simulated the drinking trajectories and liver disease trends in all U.S. adults. They estimated that a one-year increase in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic will result in 8,000 additional deaths from alcohol-related liver disease, 18,700 cases of liver failure, and 1,000 cases of liver cancer by 2040. In the short term, alcohol consumption changes due to COVID-19 are expected to cause 100 additional deaths and 2,800 additional cases of liver failure by 2023. The researchers noted that a sustained increase in alcohol consumption for more than one year could result in 19-35 per cent additional mortality. There is a need for individuals and policymakers to make informed decisions to mitigate the impact of high-risk alcohol drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic.