Burden of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease and Alcohol Use Disorder in Asia.

BACKGROUND

As alcohol consumption continues to rise rapidly in Asia, research into its significant consequences, alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is still limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the burden of alcohol-related liver disease and alcohol use disorder in Asia from 2000 to 2021.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the global burden of disease (GBD) Study 2021 to assess age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates for alcohol-related liver disease and alcohol use disorder in Asia from 2000 to 2021.

RESULTS

In 2021, there were approximately 1.40 million cases of ALD, resulting in 175,370 deaths and 53.18 million cases of AUD, with 57,110 deaths. Asia accounted for 46.35% of the global prevalence of ALD (an increase of 6.87% since 2000) and 47.86% of the global prevalence of AUD (an increase of 0.82% since 2000). A 91.2% increase in crude ALD prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2021 in Asia was observed. South Asia exhibited the highest crude burden of ALD, while Central Asia had the highest age-standardized rate. Notably, ALD prevalence increased in South Asia (Annual Percent Change [APC]: 0.10%, 95% CI: 0.08-0.13) and Central Asia (APC: 0.88%, 95% CI: 0.79-0.97), even as other regions experienced declines.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals a disproportionately increasing burden of ALD and AUD in Asia compared with global trends, with significant variability across subregions. Central and South Asia are identified as the primary drivers of the burden associated with ALD and AUD in this region.