A new study reveals a 17.6% increase in alcohol-related mortality and an 8.1% rise in hospitalizations from April 2020 to December 2022 in Canada. The study found the sharpest increases were among younger adults and in Western Canada, highlighting the need for urgent public health interventions.
By Dr. Chinta SidharthanReviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLMFeb 5 2025 A new study reveals a 17.6% increase in alcohol-related mortality and an 8.1% rise in hospitalizations from April 2020 to December 2022, with the sharpest increases among younger adults and in Western Canada. Experts call for urgent public health interventions.
Alcohol consumption Alcohol-related health issues were already a significant public concern in Canada even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017, alcohol use contributed to approximately 18,000 deaths and over 100,000 hospitalizations. At the same time, access to healthcare services, including primary care screenings for alcohol use disorders, declined. However, the extent of the pandemic’s impact on alcohol-related hospitalizations and mortality remained hitherto unclear.
The researchers employed numerous statistical models to estimate expected monthly rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations. These models accounted for trends, seasonal variations, and pandemic waves to determine excess rates from April 2020 to December 2022. The analysis compared observed data to projections based on pre-pandemic trends.
Major findings The study found that alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations significantly increased during the pandemic. Canada recorded a 17.6% rise in alcohol-attributable mortality, with an estimated 1,600 excess deaths during the April 2020 to December 2022 period. Hospitalizations linked to alcohol also rose by 8.1%, translating to more than 7,100 additional hospital admissions.
The territories experienced the highest surges in hospitalizations, with a 27.3% increase, followed by the Prairie provinces, which cumulatively saw a 14.6% increase in hospitalizations.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION PUBLIC HEALTH COVID-19 MORTALITY HOSPITALIZATIONS
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