Korean J Gastroenterol.  2020 Aug;76(2):55-59. 10.4166/kjg.2020.76.2.55.

Epidemiology of Alcoholic Liver Disease in Korea

• Lee SW

• KMID: 2505809
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2020.76.2.55

Abstract

The harmful use of alcohol is associated with significant medical and socioeconomic burdens responsible for approximately 6% ofall deaths worldwide. In Korea, the total alcohol consumption recently decreased slightly from 14.8 L of alcohol per person onaverage in 2011 to 9.1 L in 2015. On the other hand, over the past 10 years (2007-2017), the rates of monthly alcohol consumption,which is defined as drinking more than once a month, and the rates of high-risk alcohol consumption, defined as drinkingmore than seven standard drinks twice a week or more, have increased. In particular, the death rate due to alcoholic liver diseasewas the highest and increasing among those in their 50s who play crucial socioeconomic roles. In addition, the most notablechange over the past 10 years has been the increase in alcohol consumption in young women aged between 20 and 39, and theincrease in deaths among women due to alcoholic liver disease. In Korea, alcoholic liver disease is ranked 2nd-3rd as the causesof chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, having a significant negative socioeconomic impact.

Keyword

Alcohol; Alcohol consumption; Alcohol-related death; Alcoholic liver disease

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Monthly alcohol consumption (Modified from Ministry of Health and Welfare DCH13). The rates of monthly alcohol consumption defined as drinking more than once a month.

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  Fig. 2 High-risk alcohol consumption (Modified from Ministry of Health and Welfare DCH13). The rates of high-risk alcohol consumption defined as drinking more than seven standard drinks for twice a week or more.

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  Fig. 3 Days of drinking alcohol per month among alcohol consumers (Modified from Ministry of Agriculture Food, And Rural Affairs14).

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  Fig. 4 Alcohol-related death (Modified from Statistics Korea17). The rates of alcohol-related death, defined as death caused by alcohol-related disorders.

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  Fig. 5 Death due to alcoholic liver disease according to sex (Modified from Statistics Korea17). Number of deaths per 100,000 due to alcoholic liver disease.

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  Fig. 6 Death due to alcoholic liver disease according to age (Modified from Statistics Korea17). The proportion of deaths due to alcoholic liver disease according to the age groups.

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