From a public health view, this study zoomed in on patients with hypertension, a group at risk for alcohol-related problems. The main takeaway? Overall, there wasn’t much change in alcohol-related disorders or deaths during the pandemic compared to before. However, we did spot some notable trends.
Among women, we saw a rise in alcohol-related disorders in primary care. Meanwhile, the rate of alcohol dependency in specialist care dropped, especially in men. Historically, men have had higher rates of alcohol-related issues than women, and this pattern persisted during both the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. Interestingly, cardiovascular diseases associated with alcohol rose in both sexes, especially among men in specialist care. On the other hand, mental health issues like depression appeared to decline.
This research is the first of its kind to delve into pandemic-related changes in alcohol-related disorders among hypertensive patients. Unlike a study on the general U.S. population, which found a surge in alcohol-related issues during the pandemic, we noted a decrease in men seeking specialist care. The U.S. study reported rising rates, particularly among women aged 40-64. Conversely, a meta-analysis indicated that while harmful drinking surged in the U.S., it didn’t follow the same trend in Europe.
In Sweden, hazardous alcohol use has been relatively stable after a decline in men, with approximately 27% of adults managing hypertension. Primary care plays a crucial role in addressing this issue, but during the pandemic, many visits were postponed, which could have led to more cases going undiagnosed.
We also observed that death rates from alcohol-related disorders remained steady during the pandemic, aligning with findings from similar Scandinavian studies. In contrast, some nations, particularly in the U.S. and parts of Eastern Europe, noted increased alcohol-related deaths. The classification of these deaths during the pandemic is complicated by COVID-19 overlapping conditions.
In the early months of the pandemic, many alcohol-related conditions declined. However, as healthcare services began to return to normal, the prevalence of many diagnoses climbed back to pre-pandemic levels. One exception was cardiovascular diagnoses in primary care, which persisted, possibly due to deferred medical care during COVID-19 restrictions.
Notably, hospitalization rates for conditions like cerebrovascular disease stayed stable among hypertensive patients, mirroring trends in the general Swedish population. This stability is crucial, given the considerable fears surrounding the pandemic’s impact on chronic illnesses.
Another intriguing element is the shift in mental health diagnoses. While fears of rising anxiety and depression were widespread, our study revealed that these rates actually decreased. Moreover, women typically had higher rates of these conditions than men.
During the pandemic, female patients were more frequently diagnosed with COVID-19 in primary care, while men faced higher hospitalization rates. This trend mirrors broader findings indicating men often experience more severe COVID-19 cases.
In terms of injuries requiring medical attention, there was a notable increase later in the pandemic. Research suggests that while people were home more, incidents like falls rose, but fatalities from accidents remained unchanged. This stark contrast emphasizes the unique circumstances under which the pandemic unfolded in Sweden.
The link between hazardous alcohol use and suicide remains strong. Increased alcohol consumption is known to elevate suicide risk, yet overall suicide rates stayed stable during the pandemic, despite concerns that isolation would push these figures higher.
Overall, this study underscores the importance of tailored healthcare for hypertensive patients. The differences between sexes highlight the need for individualized treatment approaches. During health crises like the pandemic, ensuring continued care for chronic conditions is paramount to avoid long-term health repercussions.
With comprehensive data from various areas in Stockholm, this study provides a detailed snapshot of trends over time. Although there are limitations, such as not accounting for all lifestyle changes during the pandemic, the findings remain significant.
For further information, consult studies like those in the National Institutes of Health reports and public health journals for a better understanding of the pandemic’s effects on alcohol-related health trends.
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Alcohol-related disorders,Other alcohol-associated conditions,Hypertension,COVID-19,Pandemic,Cardiovascular disease,Time serries analysis,Science,Humanities and Social Sciences,multidisciplinary
