States with strong policies regarding alcohol have lower rates of alcohol-related cirrhosis deaths, especially in women, according to Dr. Scott Hadland and his associates.
A 10-point increase in Alcohol Policy Scale (APS) score was associated with a 9% decrease in alcohol-related cirrhosis deaths in women; however, when American Indian (AI)/Alaska Natives (AN) were excluded, the association between APS score and cirrhosis deaths increased to 11% in both genders and to 18% in women aged 23-66. The association between cirrhosis death rate and APS score was strongest in the Northeast.
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High APS scores were not as related to AI/AN cirrhosis deaths, which were significantly higher than in other populations. This is likely due to differing tribal policies regarding alcohol and the isolation of AI/AN communities, which prevents state alcohol policies from working effectively, the investigators said.
“Future studies should continue to assess the differential effects of alcohol policies on other health concerns that are linked to excessive alcohol use for specific population subgroups according to sex, race/ethnicity, and geographical location,” the investigators said.
Find the full study in Preventing Chronic Disease (doi: 10.5888/pcd12.150200).