The number of alcohol-related deaths has significantly increased in recent years, particularly among women.

A new study has linked excessive alcohol consumption to an increasing number of deaths, as previous research has shown that no amount of alcohol is beneficial for the human body.

Nearly double the number of alcohol-related deaths occurred between 1999 and 2020, according to a study from Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine.

According to a study of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER), alcohol mortality rates increased from 10.7 per 100,000 in 1999 to 21.6 per 100,000 in 2020.

A fourfold increase was observed among individuals aged 25 to 34 in the largest surge.

The results were published in The American Journal of Medicine.

Individuals who consume moderate to large amounts of alcohol have the highest risks of premature mortality and morbidity, according to a study by Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., a professor of medicine at the FAU Schmidt College of Medicine.

According to Hennekens, the primary causes of alcohol-related death include cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and strokes, as well as certain cancers and cirrhosis of the liver.

Alcoholic cirrhosis and dementia are just a few of the negative outcomes that result from chronic, heavy alcohol consumption, which also contributes to hospitalizations in state facilities.

The study found that alcohol-related deaths were more likely among individuals with both obesity and diabetes.

What amount is harmful?

Hennekens pointed out that the level of alcohol intake can significantly affect the risk of death.

"The distinction between consuming small and moderate to large amounts of alcohol can significantly impact the likelihood of preventing or causing premature deaths," the researcher stated. "Alcohol consumption immediately causes liver damage."

Dr. Ken Spielvogel, a senior medical advisor at Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa in Los Angeles, concurred that consuming larger amounts of alcohol increases the likelihood of developing hypertension, stroke, heart failure, and other cardiac complications.

Dramatic harmful effects can result from consuming more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, especially when combined with obesity and other co-morbidities, he stated.

No more than one drink per day is recommended for women and individuals over the age of 65, while men can consume up to two drinks daily according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

Rise in alcohol deaths among women

Despite having the highest overall mortality rates, women experienced the "most significant proportional increase" in deaths, with a rise from 4.8 per 100,000 in 1999 to 12 in 2020, according to the study findings.

The study results did not surprise Dr. Adam Scioli, the chief medical officer at Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania.

"Women progress more rapidly to developing alcohol use disorder and its associated health consequences."

According to Scioli, who was not part of the study, the findings align with what has been observed clinically for the past ten years - an increase in severe diseases and co-morbidities linked to alcohol consumption.

This has been especially true among women, he noted.

The expert stated that there has been a substantial rise in women, particularly those aged 20 to 55, seeking treatment at Caron for liver failure and being placed on the transplant list.

Since the 90s, there has been a significant increase in alcohol consumption among women, which has been exacerbated during the pandemic, according to Scioli.

The increase in alcohol consumption among women can be attributed to various factors, such as the promotion of alcohol to women, the normalization of drinking in family spaces, and the growing wine culture, all of which contribute to significant health risks for women.

Gender differences in alcohol effects

Women and men process alcohol differently due to their biology, Scioli noted.

The doctor explained that women are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol on the liver, heart, and brain due to their lower alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity, an enzyme in the stomach and liver that helps break down alcohol.

Men are less likely to experience the health effects of alcohol consumption at an earlier age than women.

According to Scioli, the "telescoping" effect refers to the rapid progression of women to alcohol use disorder and its associated health consequences.

Women are more likely to develop cirrhosis, liver diseases, heart failure, heart attack, and stroke due to alcohol use, according to the researcher.

Scioli stated that long-term alcohol consumption can enhance the likelihood of developing breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon cancers.

The increase in obesity in the U.S. was highlighted by Spielvogel, affecting all age groups and genders.

An increase in alcohol consumption and an epidemic of obesity increase the risk of alcohol-related mortality in women, according to the expert.

Potential limitations

Experts pointed out some potential limitations of the study.

"It is an analysis of cross-sectional data," noted Spielvogel.

Analyzing this mix of population in a non-prospective randomized manner may introduce bias, although this is the gold standard for scientific research but not feasible for this data.

"An analysis of diverse cultures and age groups may result in biased and incorrect findings."

The main limitation of the study, according to Scioli, is that it relies on public health data, which may result in an underestimation of the issue.

A call for change

The researchers recommend "customized interventions" to reduce alcohol-related fatalities based on their study findings.

They also recommend additional research to help shape public health policies.

Screening for alcohol use in primary care settings is crucial to reduce these risks, according to Hennekens.

Scioli concurred, advocating for earlier intervention by healthcare professionals to detect individuals, particularly women, with problematic drinking and recommend them for evaluation of a possible substance use disorder.

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He added that it is necessary to make it more accessible and acceptable for individuals to seek assistance.

"We must normalize sobriety and enhance support for individuals who abstain from alcohol."

The National Alcohol Beverage Control Association was contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital for a comment.