NCD Watch

Alcohol Drinking and Alcohol-related Liver Disease

14 December 2023 (Thu)

Drinking alcohol is associated with increasing risk of developing mental and behavioural disorders as well as major non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, some cancers and liver problems. Alcoholic-related liver disease comprises a spectrum of liver conditions ranging alcoholic fatty liver to alcoholic steatohepatitis (liver inflammation with fat accumulation) and irreversible alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

As alcohol interferes with lipid metabolism and induces fat deposition in the liver, the disease begins with fatty liver that is usually asymptomatic. If symptoms are present, they are usually non-specific that may include fatigue, loss of appetite and discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen. The progression and severity of alcohol-related liver disease is highly dependent on the amount and duration of alcohol consumption as well as the drinking pattern (such as frequent or binge drinking).

Among local persons aged 15 or above, the Population Health Survey 2020-22 observed that 8.7% of them drank alcohol regularly (i.e. drank at least once a week), including 2.1% reported daily drinking; 2.0% of them reported binge drinking at least once per month during the 12 months preceding the survey. Persons aged 75–84 (3.3%) were more likely than persons in other age groups to report daily drinking.

Department of Health has produced various Alcohol Fails Toolkits for promulgating to primary healthcare professionals and other education materials pertaining to reducing harmful use of alcohol among the general public, including a self-help booklet for drinkers to assess their own drinking risk and help them change drinking habits in order to prevent alcohol-related health problems. To access the self-help booklet for drinkers to assess their own drinking risk or want to know more about alcohol-related harm, please visit the Change for Health website at https://www.change4health.gov.hk/en/alcohol_aware/index.html.

Source: NCD Watch December 2023