Epidemiology of alcoholic liver diseases in Xi'an

AIM: To investigate the characteristics of ethanol consumption in Xi'an area, and to explore the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease and the correlation of the quantity of ethanol consumed with the development of alcoholic liver disease. METHODS: By random cluster sampling, 9 professional groups of people were chosen in the city and the rural areas as subjects. Questionaire was taken and the data collected and analyzed by specialists. RESULTS: During April to June 2000, 3 613 persons were investigated. Among them 1270 were drinkers, in which 90.1% were males and only 126 females. 78 persons were alcoholic fatty liver patients (6.1%). The prevalence rate was 2.2% in all subjects. Only one female patient with alcoholic liver disease (0.3%), and 5 cases of alcoholic cirrhosis (0.1%) were found. Alcoholic fatty liver patients consumed the equivalent of 31.3+24.2 g absolute ethanol with a mean duration of 14.0+7.4 years. With increase of alcoholic consumption the serum levels of ALT and AST increased. The prevalence rate of alcoholic fatty liver is higher in city than that in rural area. CONCLUSION: Alcohol drinkers in Xi'an are very popular. Males are the major population. Alcoholic fatty liver is the most common type of ALD with prevalence rate of 2.2%. The equivalent of 30 g ethanol consumed in more than 14 years may result in alcoholic fatty liver. The alterations of liver function are parallel to the consumption of alcohol.