Growing Burden of Alcoholic Liver Disease in China: A Review

Explosive economic growth and increasing social openness in China over the last 30 years have significantly boosted alcohol consumption, and consequently, the incidence of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in China has increased. Because the epidemiologic and clinical features of ALD in the Chinese population may differ from those of the Caucasian population, this review describes the epidemiology, pathogenesis, genetic polymorphisms, diagnosis, and treatment of ALD in the Chinese population. This updated knowledge of ALD in China provides information needed for a global understanding of ALD and may help in the development of useful strategies for reducing the global ALD burden.
Keywords: Alcoholic liver disease, Epidemiology, Morbidity, China
Core tip: Explosive economic growth and increasing social openness in China over the last 30 years have significantly boosted alcohol consumption, and consequently, the incidence of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in China has increased. This review describes the epidemiology, pathogenesis, genetic polymorphisms, diagnosis, and treatment of ALD in the Chinese population, with the goal of supporting the development of useful strategies for reducing the global ALD burden.
JOUR
Wang, Wen-Jun
Xiao, Peng
Xu, Hong-Qin
Niu, Jun-Qi
Gao, Yan-Hang
2019
World Journal of Gastroenterology
25
12
1445-56
PMC6441911
2842