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First Covid lockdowns, then alcohol to your door: rise in young Victorians with liver diseases prompts fears
Hospital admissions for alcohol-associated hepatitis in Victoria rose sharply during the Covid lockdowns and remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Researchers warn that severe, potentially irreversible liver disease is affecting younger people, even as young people’s overall alcohol consumption has declined.
A Burnet Institute report examined 4,111 hospital admissions from January 2017 to June 2024, alongside clinical data dating back to 2010. Men accounted for 62.5% of admissions, while 14% of patients were under 35; researchers also reported a sharp rise among women. They said lockdown stress and increased access to home alcohol delivery may have contributed, but the study could not establish specific causes.
In short
- Alcohol-related hepatitis admissions remain high in Victoria.
- Fourteen per cent of patients were under 35.
- Researchers say a small group of young people drink heavily.
Explained simply
Alcohol-associated hepatitis is a serious inflammation of the liver linked to drinking alcohol over time. It can cause lasting damage, and severe cases may require hospital care.
Victoria is a state in south-eastern Australia. Researchers at the Burnet Institute studied hospital admissions and clinical records to examine who was affected and how admissions changed over time.
The findings matter because the disease can affect younger people, while overall alcohol consumption among young people has fallen. Researchers suggested lockdown stress and home delivery may have played a part, but their study could not show what caused the rise.
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