A new study published in JAMA Health Forum on April 12 reported that women in particular struggled with alcohol-related complications during the COVID-10 pandemic. DGIM Professor of Medicine, Frank Wharam, is the senior author of the paper. The team analyzed claims data from Optum’s deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart database, from March 2017 (pre-pandemic) to September 2021 (pandemic onset March 2020). Claims data included patients 15 years and older with at least six months of continuous commercial or Medicare Advantage coverage.
Although rates of high-acuity alcohol-related complications were statistically increased overall during several of the pandemic months included in the dataset, women between the ages of 40-64 years experienced statistically significant increases in alcohol-related complications in 10 of 18 pandemic months. Measures included complications of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), alcohol withdrawal or alcohol-related mood disorders, alcohol-related cardiomyopathy, and alcohol-related gastritis with bleeding. The investigators measured rates of these presenting to the emergency department, observation unit, or hospital. Women were also found to have higher rates of ALD-related episodes in 16 of 18 pandemic months analyzed. Men aged 40 to 64 years experienced increases above expected in most pandemic months but these did not reach statistical significance. The study did not observe notable differences within other age groups.
“We were surprised by the major increases among middle-aged women,” Wharam said. “We suspect that the complications largely occurred among women who already had underlying long-term alcohol effects such as cirrhosis. An uptick in drinking during the pandemic might have exacerbated these conditions, requiring high-acuity care.”
These findings align with previous reports of increased alcohol consumption and alcohol-related deaths in women as well increased alcohol use during the pandemic in particular. “We hope our study raises awareness about a subgroup that appears to be suffering,” said Wharam. “Short-term interventions are crucial, but the results also likely point to complex and longstanding challenges that need to be understood and addressed.” The paper concludes with several recommendations including increasing screening of women for alcohol use and related complications.
The study’s findings have received national attention in articles from CNN and the New York Times.
Citation:
Shuey B, Halbisen A, Lakoma M, Zhang F, Argetsinger S, Williams EC, Druss BG, Wen H, Wharam JF. High-Acuity Alcohol-Related Complications During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Health Forum. 2024 Apr 5;5(4):e240501.