Researchers analyse economic burden on people due to consumption of alcohol

Alcohol use disorders lead to various health and social problems, which cause an increase in the need and use of various services.

However, recent research analysed the magnitude and reasons behind the economic burden alcohol use disorders have on society.

The researchers at the University of Eastern Finland used a machine learning technique that is based on a Bayesian network model to analyse causal relationships between different risk factors and the costs associated with them.

The analysis included a total of 16 risk factors, including socioeconomic variables such as age, gender, marital status, unemployment status, and social problems like homelessness, illicit drug use, criminal record, and drunk driving.

The researchers also looked at what happens when a patient goes into remission, i.e., stops drinking altogether.The study population comprised of 363 Finnish alcohol use disorder patients diagnosed in 2011-2012.

Their data were collected from various patient information systems and social welfare databases over a period of five years.

Surprisingly, the number of diagnoses of chronic conditions played the biggest role in the overall cumulation of costs in patients with alcohol use disorder.

In patients with at least two chronic conditions, the average five-year costs of care were 26,000 euros (around 30,000 US dollars) higher than in patients without multiple diagnoses.Findings shed light on how cumulation of health problems increase cost of healthcare services.

Study suggested people with alcohol use disorders should get better treatment for non-alcohol-related conditions.