Alcoholism Leads People Early into their Grave Than Non-Dependent Peers

Alcoholism can take a serious toll on one’s health. Mental problems and significant physical health impairments are associated with alcohol addiction. Researchers have revealed that alcohol dependent patients die about 7.6 years earlier on average than hospital patients without a history of alcohol addiction. The study findings also recommend one to seek an early treatment for addiction. During the study, the researchers evaluated patient data extending over a 12.5-year period from seven general hospitals in Manchester. Using these data, the scientists analyzed co-morbid physical illnesses of 23,371 hospital patients with alcohol dependence and compared them with those of a control group of 233,710 randomly selected patients without alcoholism.

Professor Reinhard Heun from the Royal Derby Hospital in England said, "During the observation period, approximately one out of five hospital patients with alcoholism died in one of the hospitals, while only one out of twelve patients in the control group died. Through diligent screening and early treatment of concomitant mental and physical illnesses, it should be possible to significantly increase the life expectancy of alcoholic patients."

The study is published in European Psychiatry.

Source-Medindia