A new study published in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal of the American Medical Association highlights a worrying rise in alcohol-related diseases, particularly among young adults. The research challenges the previous assumption that alcohol-related organ damage primarily affects older individuals, revealing alarming trends among adolescents and young adults.
Conducted by a team from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, the study examines nearly two decades of healthcare data (2003–2021) to explore “end-organ complications” resulting from alcohol consumption. The focus was on patients aged 13 to 39 years who presented with alcohol-related health issues at emergency departments or inpatient settings.
The study categorizes the complications by affected organ: the pancreas, liver, and other organs, including the stomach, adrenal glands, nervous system, muscles, heart, and, where applicable, the fetus.
Key findings include:
Of the 11,508 patients analyzed, 29% had pancreas-related issues, while 19% suffered liver-related complications.
Pancreatitis and liver disease were notably more common in males, with 71% of patients with pancreatic issues being male, and 88% living in urban areas. Additionally, 77% of these patients required hospitalization.
Alarmingly, the incidence of alcohol-related complications is rising more sharply among young women compared to men. Pancreatitis increased by 12% per year in women, compared to 7% for men. Liver-related complications also rose by 9% annually in women, compared to 6% in men.
The researchers noted that gastrointestinal diseases, such as pancreatitis and liver disease, are increasing among young adults at rates far higher than complications affecting other organ systems. While these diseases were more prevalent in men, the rate of change was greater in women, a trend that has prompted the researchers to call for urgent further investigation.
“The differences in risk for acute and chronic pancreatitis, as well as alcohol-associated liver disease, may vary between males and females, even with the same level of alcohol consumption,” the study explains. However, no similar trends were observed in other organ systems, such as the heart and stomach.
Given the rapid increase in alcohol-related organ damage among younger populations, the researchers stress the critical need for additional studies to better understand the long-term implications and to guide preventative measures.
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