Sex differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with alcoholic hepatitis
Gayatri Pemmasani, William J Tremaine, Vishnu Charan Suresh Kumar, Ganesh Aswath, Bishnu Sapkota, Raffi Karagozian, Savio John- Gastroenterology
- Hepatology
Background
Alcohol-associated liver disease is increasing among females with an earlier onset and more severe disease at lower levels of exposure. However, there is paucity of literature regarding sex differences related to alcoholic hepatitis.
Methods
Hospitalized patients with alcoholic hepatitis were selected from the US Nationwide readmissions database 2019. In this cohort, we evaluated sex differences in baseline comorbidities, alcoholic hepatitis related complications and mortality. A subset of patients with alcoholic hepatitis who were hospitalized between January and June 2019 were identified to study sex differences in 6 month readmission rate, mortality during readmission, and composite of mortality during index hospitalization or readmission.
Results
Among 112 790 patients with alcoholic hepatitis, 33.3% were female. Female patients were younger [48 (38–57) vs. 49 (39–58) years; both
Conclusion
Compared to their male counterparts, females with alcoholic hepatitis were generally younger but had higher rates of comorbidities, alcoholic hepatitis related complications, rehospitalizations and associated mortality. The greater risks of alcohol-associated liver dysfunction in females indicate the need for more aggressive management.