A new study published in the American Journal of Medicine looked at increasing trends in alcohol related mortality in the United States.
“We sought to explore whether there have been increases in U.S. alcohol related mortality,” study author Alexandra Matarazzo told us. “We were hoping to find out whether there were increases and, if so, whether they are occurring at younger ages.”
The research team hypothesized that U.S. alcohol related mortality would be higher and, at younger ages, due possibly to deleterious effects on the liver of alcohol and overweight and their possible synergy.
“We are concerned about alcohol consumption being a leading avoidable cause of premature death and disability in the U.S.” Matarazzo told us. “Results of the clinical research study reveal that alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. have surged dramatically in the last two decades, with the mortality rate nearly doubling from 10.7 per 100,000 in 1999 to 21.6 per 100,000 in 2020.”
The total number of alcohol-related deaths soared from 19,356 to 48,870, a dramatic two-fold increase. Every age group has suffered increases with the most alarming spike – nearly four-fold – in those aged 25 to 34.
The 85 and older age group saw a possible but nonsignificant increase. Additionally, individuals aged 55-64 had both the steepest rise 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 steepest increase overall,” Matarazzo told us. “Women, however, saw the largest proportional rise, with deaths increasing from 4.8 per 100,000 in 1999 to 12 in 2020.”
Deaths in women increased two and a half times, while Asian and Pacific Islander communities experienced the steepest rise of 2.4 times. Regionally, the Midwest experienced the greatest jump, with an increase of 2.5 times in alcohol-related mortality, followed by the Northeast, West, and South.
“Health care providers should be aware that in the U.S. as well as most populations throughout the world, individuals who consume large amounts of alcohol tend to have the highest risks of mortality as well as deaths from cardiovascular disease, which are predominantly due to heart attacks and stroke,” Matarazzo told us. “I would like to reemphasize that both globally, and in the U.S., high levels of alcohol consumption are closely linked to premature deaths and disability.”
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 U.S., the rising rates of obesity and diabetes, also contribute to early liver damage.