据估计,英国有 24%-28% 的成人会以危险或有害的方式饮酒。[1]The Health and Social Care Information Centre. Statistics on alcohol: England, 2015. Jun 2015 [internet publication].http://content.digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB17712/alc-eng-2015-rep.pdf[2]World Health Organization. Global status report on alcohol and health 2014. 2014 [internet publication].http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/2010 年,美国的酒精使用障碍(包括酒精依赖和有害性酒精使用)患病率为 7.4%,而英国的患病率为 11.1%。[2]World Health Organization. Global status report on alcohol and health 2014. 2014 [internet publication].http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/ 2012 年,全球 5.1% 的疾病负担和 5.9% 的死亡是由于酒精。在全球范围内,7.6% 的男性死亡和 4.0% 的女性死亡归因于酒精。[2]World Health Organization. Global status report on alcohol and health 2014. 2014 [internet publication].http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/
酒精性肝病是发展中国家居首位的健康风险,在发达国家排第 3 位。[3]World Health Organization. Public health problems caused by harmful use of alcohol: report by the Secretariat. Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Provisional agenda item 13.14. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2005.http://apps.who.int/gb/archive/pdf_files/WHA58/A58_18-en.pdf 除了一些北欧国家(例如英国和芬兰),美国和其他欧洲国家的人均酒精消耗量已经下降。[4]Welch C, Harrison D, Short A, et al. The increasing burden of alcoholic liver disease on United Kingdom critical care units: secondary analysis of a high quality clinical database. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2008 Apr;13(suppl 2):40-4.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18416928?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Sand J, Välikoski A, Nordback I. Alcohol consumption in the country and hospitalizations for acute alcohol pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis during a 20-year period. Alcohol Alcohol. 2009 May-Jun;44(3):321-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19144980?tool=bestpractice.com 然而,有些地区酗酒的情况出现增加。在拉丁美洲和亚洲尤其如此。
酒精性肝硬化死亡率呈下降趋势,但只有酒精消耗量继续进一步下降,死亡率才能继续下降。[6]Saunders JB, Latt N. Epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease. Baillieres Clin Gastroenterol. 1993 Sep;7(3):555-79.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8219400?tool=bestpractice.com 女性酒精性肝病的进展更为快速,引起女性发病的酒精剂量低于男性。[7]Loft S, Olesen KL, Dossing M. Increased susceptibility to liver disease in relation to alcohol consumption in women. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1987 Dec;22(10):1251-6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3433014?tool=bestpractice.com 酒精性肝病发生的种族差异已经在减小。
与肝硬化相关的死亡率随年龄增长而增加。[6]Saunders JB, Latt N. Epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease. Baillieres Clin Gastroenterol. 1993 Sep;7(3):555-79.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8219400?tool=bestpractice.com 尸检研究的数据显示,10%-15% 的嗜酒者死亡时有肝硬化。大约 20% 的嗜酒者和大量饮酒者发生脂肪肝或脂肪变性。[6]Saunders JB, Latt N. Epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease. Baillieres Clin Gastroenterol. 1993 Sep;7(3):555-79.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8219400?tool=bestpractice.com 如果继续大量饮酒,大约 40% 的酒精性肝炎患者会进展为肝硬化。[6]Saunders JB, Latt N. Epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease. Baillieres Clin Gastroenterol. 1993 Sep;7(3):555-79.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8219400?tool=bestpractice.com 丙型肝炎感染会增加嗜酒患者发生肝硬化的风险,并且丙型肝炎肝硬化的患病率在继续上升。因此,这种类型酒精性肝硬化的患病率可能会增加。