Alcoholic liver disease in women

In 1972-1977, 130 patients with alcoholic liver disease (123 men and 7 women) were admitted. A half of the women had occupations which are related with alcohol consumption and a half were housewives. Daily consumption of alcohol in the women was the same as in the men. Duration of excessive drinking was 11.4 years in the women and 17.1 years in the men, but the difference was not statistically significant. Though the difference of the incidence of alcoholic hepatitis in the women (57%) and in the men (27%) was not statistically significant, frequency of ascites was significantly higher in the women (43%) than in the men (7%). Women seem to be more susceptible to severe form of alcoholic liver damage.