Alcohol Use Disorder With Metabolic Dysfunction Is Associated With Adverse Health Impacts in a United States Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Psychiatry
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Excessive alcohol consumption and metabolic dysfunction (MD) are global health concerns.
• The overlap between MD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) and its health impacts are understudied in the US.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if concurrent MD and AUD are associated with worse liver-related and psychiatric health.
• To compare health markers across healthy controls, MD only, AUD only, and combined MD and AUD groups.

Main Methods:

• 1220 participants were categorized into four groups: healthy controls (HC), MD (metHC), AUD, and combined MD and AUD (metAUD).
• Sociodemographic, clinical biomarkers, liver injury indices (FIB-4, LiverRisk, NFS), liver enzymes (GGT, AST, ALT), inflammatory markers (CRP), liver function tests (albumin, bilirubin, PT-INR), and psychiatric comorbidities were assessed.
• Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare groups, with additional comparisons for MD severity within the metAUD group.

Main Results:

• Liver enzymes, fibrosis scores, and liver function tests showed additive negative effects from metHC to AUD to metAUD, with the most severe impact in metAUD.
• Metabolic dysfunction and AUD combined (metAUD) showed the most significant association with psychiatric disorders.
• Increased MD severity within the AUD group correlated with higher liver enzymes, CRP, NFS, and anxiety disorders.

Conclusions:

• Metabolic dysfunction in the context of AUD is linked to greater liver dysfunction and psychiatric burden.
• Findings support the integration of MD-targeted treatment strategies into clinical care for AUD patients.