Burden of alcohol use disorder and its consequences in Iran from 1990 to 2019: Findings from the global burden of disease study

Background

This study aimed to provide an up-to-date evaluation of the burden of alcohol use disorder and its consequences in Iran from 1990 to 2019.

Methods

We assessed the burden of alcohol use disorder and its three subsequent disorders, including cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases, liver cancer, and cardiomyopathy using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data. We retrieved data on incidence, prevalence, death, Years of Life Lost from mortality (YLL), Years of healthy life Lost due to Disability (YLD), and Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY), which is calculated by summing YLL and YLD values, indices, as well as sociodemographic index (SDI) values.

Results

Age-standardized DALY rate of alcohol use disorder reduced from 55.5 in 1990 to 41.8 per 100,000 in 2019 (−24.1 %). Similarly, age-standardized DALY rates of cirrhosis due to alcohol use (−28.7 %), liver cancer due to alcohol use (−20.9 %), and alcoholic cardiomyopathy (−36.3 %) decreased in Iran from 1990 to 2019. In 2019, alcohol use disorder had the highest DALY rate among individuals younger than 55 years, while cirrhosis due to alcohol use imposed the greatest burden on those older than 55. After adjusting for the year, SDI was negatively associated with the age-standardized DALY rate of liver cancer due to alcohol use (p < 0.001), positively associated with that of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (p = 0.002), and not significantly associated with the burden of other conditions (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Despite reductions in the age-standardized DALY rate of alcohol use disorders and related consequences among Iranians, they remain a serious public health concern in Iran.