Hospitalizations and deaths due to alcohol-associated liver disease in Brazil and its regions, 2000–2022

Authors

• Apollo Nobre Torres Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2242-1985
• Mirian Akiko Kawamura Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6012-3366
• Laís Vasques Bertoncini Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9816-0646
• Gustavo Tadeu Freitas Uchôa Matheus Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8707-4823
• Sergio Antonio Zullo Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7703-3172
• Fernanda Carolina Camargo Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1048-960X
• Geisa Perez Medina Gomide Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6657-5515

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17058/reci.v16i.20181

Keywords:

Alcoholic liver diseases, Alcohol abuse, Information systems, Epidemiological studies

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is the leading cause of alcohol-attributable mortality and the sixth leading cause of related hospital admissions. Hepatic steatosis occurs in approximately 90% of alcohol consumers, with 10% to 20% of chronic heavy drinkers progressing to severe forms such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Given the prevalence and severity of ALD, coupled with the scarcity of studies on the subject, it is essential for the scientific community to explore this topic further. The objective of the present study was to analyze the temporal evolution and epidemiological profile of hospital admissions and deaths due to ALD across the five regions of Brazil, from 2000 to 2022. Methods: This is an ecological study utilizing secondary data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the Hospital Information System (SIH), covering the period from 2000 to 2022, based on the occurrence of Alcoholic Liver Disease. Results: A total of 344,039 hospital admissions and 214,642 deaths were registered in Brazil. A higher frequency of hospitalizations and deaths was observed among males, individuals aged 40 to 59 years, those self-identified as Black or mixed-race (pardos), unmarried individuals, and those with a low level of education. The annual percentage changes for admissions and deaths trended upward across all regions, peaking in the North region at 2.57% and 4.95%, respectively. While the South region presented relatively low absolute values, its hospitalization and mortality rates were well above the national average. Conclusion: This ecological analysis demonstrated the upward impact of the condition on hospitalizations and deaths across different regions of the country. These findings highlight the importance of promoting public health initiatives to curb alcohol abuse. Future research should analyze the integration of databases to support control and prevention strategies for the disease, as well as assess healthcare access and post-discharge survival rates.

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