Alcoholic Liver Disease Doubled in Last Two Decades: What’s Causing this Increase?

by | Jul 8, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Concerning Increase in Alcoholic Liver Disease Cases: A Look at the Numbers

According to a JAMA Network Open study, U.S. deaths from alcohol‑related liver disease nearly doubled between 1999 and 2022, rising from 6.7 to 12.5 per 100,000. We all like to think we’re getting healthier and improving as we move along, but this stat seems to suggest that America’s relationship with alcohol is moving in more and more in an unhealthy direction. The data is clear from The Advisory Board study: Around the nation: Alcohol-related liver disease doubled over the last 20 years.

📉 Alcohol‑related liver disease deaths

The numbers represent an alarming trajectory for Americans, and also for specific subsets of adults related to alcohol-related liver disease:

  • According to a JAMA Network Open study, U.S. deaths from alcohol‑related liver disease nearly doubled between 1999 and 2022, rising from 6.7 to 12.5 per 100,000.
  • The rate of increase accelerated post-2018 (~9% annually, up from 3.5% annually between 2006–2018) .
  • Increases were steeper among women (4.3% per year vs. men’s 2.5%) and strongest among young adults (ages 25–44, +4.2% per year) .
  • Indigenous American Indian and Alaska Native populations saw the highest death rates—47 per 100,000 in 2022 (up from 25 per 100,000 in 1999)—exposing widening racial disparitieshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCzf3i4UzE0.

The Net Net

  1. Alcohol‑related liver disease has surged, especially among women, young adults, and Indigenous populations—a concerning public health trend.
  2. AI in breast cancer screening: Clairity Breast earns FDA approval and shows better detection rates, potentially enhancing early intervention strategies.
  3. New adjunct therapy for weight-loss: Combining apitegromab with GLP‑1 drugs may help maintain muscle, not just shed fat.

    At LiverRight, we’re always looking for ways to remove barriers for patients to get care for liver disease and other liver conditions. To see more of how we’re working to help patients get the care they need and improve overall health through liver health, check out how we are changing the game.

    Great 4 minute video here from Alila Medical Media on the basics of Alcoholic Liver Disease