‘Wine o’clock’ culture blamed for a big surge in liver disease among women
MORE Western women are dying from alcoholic liver disease, with the “wine o’clock” culture being blamed.
In 2018, one in three victims was female – up from one in four in 1999 – figures show.
Premature deaths had risen the fastest among white women, particularly in the 25-34 age bracket and those who had not been university educated, researchers said.
Women also died of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) two to three years earlier on average than men.
Researcher Dr Aaron White said: “Years of potential life lost increased more rapidly for women than men, especially after the economic recession in 2008.”
His team from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in the US looked at data for more than 281,000 people aged 25 to 69 who died from ALD. This includes fatty liver, hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Similar trends have been identified in the UK as millions of people uncork a bottle of wine at the end of the day.
Recent research by the UK’s Office for National Statistics found alcoholrelated deaths among women aged 60 to 64 had shot up by more than a third since 2001. For men of the same age they had risen by 25 per cent.
Dr White said: “Empirical evidence from our study adds to the growing literature suggesting previously large gaps between women and men in alcohol-related harms, including mortality, are narrowing.
“The rate ratio of men to women dropped from roughly three to one in 1999 to two to one in 2018. Of particular concern is the increase that occurred among younger women aged 25 to 34.
“Because it usually takes 10 or more years of drinking to develop liver disease, premature mortality before 35 years of age is quite unusual and a cause for serious concern.
“Greater emphasis should be placed on implementation of abstinence programmes, early detection and education about hazardous drinking levels for women.” The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, also warned that coronavirus could be making the situation worse. Dr White said: “Because alcohol consumption tends to increase during periods of economic uncertainty, ALD mortality could spike as the current economic crisis persists.” Last month a study in Florida found women had been drinking more than men to cope with the “psychological distress” of coronavirus and lockdown. Dr White said: “Disruption of alcoholuse disorder treatment and recovery programs could also lead to relapses and exacerbation of ALD.” The research took into account sex, race, marital status and education as well as smoking history and conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In the UK, the Government advises adults not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week. Drinkers are also encouraged not to binge and to have “dry days”.
33% of alcoholic liver disease victims are now women