Evaluation of Trends in Alcohol Use Disorder–Related Mortality in the US Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Source:

Yeo YH, He X, Ting P, et al. Evaluation of Trends in Alcohol Use Disorder–Related Mortality in the US Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(5):e2210259. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.10259

In this cross-sectional study, researchers used data from 2012 to 2019 to project 2020 and 2021 mortality rates and found that AUD-related mortality rates increased among all ages and sexes during the pandemic. Younger persons, particularly those aged 25 to 44 years, had the steepest upward trend. The small proportion of COVID-19–related deaths suggests that excess deaths were more likely attributable to indirect effects of the pandemic such as stay-at-home policies and reduced medical and social resources for patients with AUD.