Published online Sep 14, 2022. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i34.5036
Peer-review started: February 7, 2022
First decision: April 10, 2022
Revised: May 1, 2022
Accepted: July 25, 2022
Article in press: July 25, 2022
Published online: September 14, 2022
Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a significant healthcare issue with rising alcohol use in the USA. Alcohol-associated liver disease is the second leading indication for liver transplantation after surpassing chronic hepatitis C infection.
With increasing alcohol consumption there is a need to measure the magnitude of AH effects.
The study aimed to examine the trends in hospitalization of AH patients across the USA. The second aim was to look at the mortality of hospitalized patients, along with the risk factors associated with death while hospitalized.
Data were extracted from National Inpatient Sample database using discharge diagnosis codes of International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and their corresponding ICD-10. We included hospitalization for the years from 2011 to 2017.
AH inpatient hospitalization increased from 0.7% of total admissions to 0.9% of total admissions. Mortality for admitted patients remained the same.
There has been an increase in AH hospitalization that could affect the healthcare system. Acute renal failure, sepsis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage are highly associated with increased mortality in AH patients.
New studies should focus on finding new therapeutic targets of AH. New studies should look for improved strategies to limit alcohol misuse.