Creation of an Inpatient Alcohol Liver Service Improves Early Liver Disease Detection in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023 Jun;21(6):1646-1648. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.03.042. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

Abstract

One of the most common and devastating complications of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the development of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD).1 Unfortunately, outcomes of patients with ALD are poor, in large part because patients with ALD are diagnosed at a much later stage of disease compared with patients with other causes of liver disease.2 Accordingly, earlier detection is critical in combating the high mortality associated with ALD. In this work, we sought to assess the feasibility and impact of evaluating high-risk patients with no prior documented liver disease for the presence of advanced ALD while admitted to the hospital.

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Alcoholism* / complications
  • Alcoholism* / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Inpatients
  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic* / complications
  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic* / diagnosis
  • Liver Diseases, Alcoholic* / therapy