A new research shows that alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) deaths have nearly doubled in the United States over the last two decades, with a significant spike observed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study published in JAMA Network Open analysed over 4 lakh deaths attributed to alcohol-associated liver disease between 1999 and 2022. It found that the death rate rose from 6.7 to 12.5 per 100,000 people — an 87% increase overall.
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The surge was particularly steep from 2018 to 2022, when annual mortality rose by an average of 9 per cent annually. Researchers attribute increasing alcohol consumption to pandemic-related stress, financial instability, and isolation.
“Mortality from alcohol-associated liver disease has increased significantly across most demographic groups in the US,” said the study’s authors.
Women and young adults showed especially concerning trends, with faster-rising death rates compared to previous years. American Indian and Alaska Native populations recorded the highest death rates overall. White Americans also saw steady increases, while rates among Black Americans fell initially but then reversed, rising sharply after 2019. The study also found that alcohol-related cancer deaths have also doubled among Americans, reaching over 23,000 annually by 2021.
“These findings demand comprehensive strategies, including improved screening, addiction treatment access, and prevention efforts for high-risk groups,” the researchers stated.
