Current status of alcoholic liver cirrhosis and factors involved in the progression

Abstract

We addressed the recent trend in alcoholic liver cirrhosis (LC) in Japan. Nation wide survey was carried by asking the hospitals that are qualified by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology for the number of hospitalized-patients of LC in 2007 and etiology of LC. Concerning alcoholic LC, we also obtained the amount of daily alcohol intake and period of habitual drinking. There was no significant gender difference in daily alcohol intake, while the period of habitual drinking in female patients with LC was shorter than that in male patients. Among the patients whose daily alcohol intake was less than 110 g/day, prevalence of diabetes mellitus and?or obesity (BMI≥dagger;25) were significantly higher. Shorter period of alcohol drinking was found in the female alcoholic LC compared with male LC. Obesity and diabetes mellitus appeared to be involved in the progression of alcoholic LC. Education of low risk drinking and improvement of total life style are important to decrease the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease. © 2009 The Japan Society of Hepatology.