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Alcohol Significantly Increases Liver Disease Risk in Hepatitis B Patients: Study

Patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) who consume alcohol face a significantly higher risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with the risk increasing in a dose-dependent manner, according to a new review published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology.


The study, led by Yin-Ping Wu from Qilu University Hospital of Shandong University in China, analyzed data from 33,272 HBV patients across 45 studies to assess the impact of alcohol consumption on liver disease progression. The findings suggest that alcohol consumption significantly elevates the risk of both cirrhosis and liver cancer, with heavier drinking leading to even greater dangers.

Higher Alcohol Intake, Higher Risk 

The study found that HBV patients who drank alcohol had a 2.27 times higher risk of cirrhosis and a 2.61 times higher risk of HCC compared to non-drinkers. Moreover, the risk escalated with higher alcohol intake—patients classified as high-level drinkers had a 2.34 times higher risk of cirrhosis and a 2.42 times higher risk of HCC than those who drank at lower levels.

A linear dose-dependent relationship was observed, showing that for every 12 grams of alcohol consumed daily, the risk of cirrhosis increased by 6.2%, while the risk of HCC increased by 11.5%. This highlights the compounding effect of alcohol on liver deterioration in patients already vulnerable due to HBV infection.

Call for Stronger Prevention Strategies 

The study’s authors emphasize that their meta-analysis is the first to demonstrate a clear dose-dependent link between alcohol and liver disease progression in HBV patients. These findings underscore the urgent need for public health interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption among HBV-infected individuals to prevent severe liver complications.

With HBV already a leading cause of liver-related mortality worldwide, experts stress that limiting alcohol intake should be a key component of HBV management strategies to reduce the burden of cirrhosis and liver cancer.




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