Abstrakt
Alcohol is one of the main causes of liver disease, as it is in the liver that alcohol is broken down. Excessive alcohol consumption is therefore considered a significant risk factor for liver cirrhosis.
The risk increases depending on the amount and total duration of alcohol consumption, with daily heavy drinkers being most at risk. Alcohol is estimated to be responsible for approximately 50% of all liver cirrhosis worldwide.
Patients diagnosed with alcohol-related cirrhosis have poorer health outcomes and higher mortality than those with non-alcohol-related cirrhosis. This indicates that alcohol-related cirrhosis represents a huge health burden.
The first prerequisite for the successful treatment of alcohol-related cirrhosis, including the treatment of its complications, is complete abstinence. The co-existence of alcohol-related liver disease and alcohol use disorder in patients requires multidisciplinary care.
With regard to cirrhosis, reducing alcohol consumption should be seen as an important health policy objective.