Alcohol-related Disease Research Articles

Polymorphisms of Alcohol Metabolizing Enzymes in Indigenous Mexican Population: Unusual High Frequency of CYP2E1*c2 Allele

Alcohol abuse represents the major identified etiological factor of cirrhosis in México. ADH1B, ALDH2, and CYP2E1 have been considered candidate genes in alcohol-related diseases. Controversial results probably due to ethnic differences, among other factors, have been reported. Mexican Mestizos (MES) derive from the combination of indigenous, Spaniard, and African genes. Huichols (HUI) constitute an indigenous group from western Mexico with no racial admixture. We determined ADH1B*2, ALDH2*2, and CYP2E1*c2 allele frequencies in healthy HUI and MES from western Mexico. Lipid and hepatic profile were also carried out. One hundred and one HUI and 331 MES subjects were studied. Genotype and allele frequency were assessed through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism after DNA isolation from peripheral leukocytes. Commercial kits for lipid and hepatic determinations were used. Polymorphic allele distribution in HUI was: 0%ADH1B*2, 0.5%ALDH2*2, 51.5%CYP2E1*c2; in MES: 3.4%ADH1B*2, 0%ALDH2*2, 16.1%CYP2E1*c2. Frequency of ADH1B*2 was statistically (p < 0.001) lower in HUI than MES. CYP2E1*c2 polymorphic allele was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in HUI than MES. Hepatic profile was normal in both groups. HUI showed a better lipid profile than MES independently of genotype. Huichols exhibited the highest CYP2E1*c2 allele frequency of the world documented up to this date; meanwhile, ADH1B*2 and ALDH2*2 were practically absent. This feature could be useful in the understanding of Mexican population gene composition, alcohol metabolism, and alcoholic liver disease development. However, further association studies are necessary. The heterogeneity of Mexican population was evidenced by the significantly different distribution of CYP2E1*c2 allele observed among different regions of the country. Lipid and hepatic values were not associated to genotype. This report constitutes the first study dealing with gene polymorphisms of alcohol metabolizing enzymes conducted in HUI.

Frequency and risk factors associated with emergency medical readmissions in Galway University Hospitals

Unplanned readmissions of medical hospital patients have been increasing in recent years. We examined the frequency and associates of emergency medical readmissions to Galway University Hospitals (GUH). Readmissions during the calendar year 2006 were examined using hospital in-patient enquiry data. Associations with clinical and demographic factors were determined using univariate and multivariate analyses. The medical emergency readmission rate to GUH, after correction for death during the index admission, was 19.5%. Age 65 years or more, male gender, length of stay more than 7 days and primary diagnoses of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial infarction, alcohol-related disease and heart failure during the index admission were significantly associated with readmission in univariate and multivariate analyses. The medical emergency readmission rate in GUH is comparable to other acute hospitals in Ireland and Britain. Further evaluation is needed to estimate the proportion of readmissions that are potentially avoidable.

Motivation to change risky drinking and motivation to seek help for alcohol risk drinking among general hospital inpatients with problem drinking and alcohol-related diseases

Objective The objective of this study was to analyze motivation to change drinking behavior and motivation to seek help in general hospital inpatients with problem drinking and alcohol-related diseases. Method The sample consisted of 294 general hospital inpatients aged 18–64 years. Inpatients with alcohol-attributable disease were classified according to its alcohol-attributable fraction (AAF; AAF=1, AAF<1 and AAF=0). Baseline differences in alcohol-related variables, demographics and motivation between the AAF groups were analyzed. Furthermore, differences in motivation to change, in motivation to seek help and in the amount of alcohol consumed from baseline to follow-up between the AAF groups were evaluated. Results During hospital stay, motivation to change was higher among inpatients with alcohol-attributable diseases than among inpatients who had no alcohol-attributable diseases [ F(2)=18.40, P<.001]. Motivation to seek help was higher among inpatients with AAF=1 than among inpatients with AAF<1 and AAF=0 [ F(2)=21.66, P<.001]. While motivation to change drinking behavior remained stable within 12 months of hospitalization, motivation to seek help decreased. The amount of alcohol consumed decreased in all three AAF groups. Conclusions Data suggest that hospital stay seems to be a “teachable moment.” Screening for problem drinking and motivation differentiated by AAFs might be a tool for early intervention.

Camouflage response in zebrafish: A model for genetic dissection of molecular and cellular circuitries underlying alcoholism

Ethanol is a widely abused drug. Sensitivity to its acute effects has been strongly correlated with the risk of developing alcoholism in humans. Despite the importance of genetics in human alcoholism and alcohol-related diseases, the identification of genes has been difficult due to the complex nature of these disorders. We recently demonstrate that genetic screening using a simple and tractable ethanol-sensitive camouflage response in zebrafish can efficiently uncover genes that alter ethanol-modulated behaviors similarly observable in mammals. We isolated the fantasma (fan) mutant, and showed that it not only disrupts ethanol-modulated camouflage response, but also impairs behavioral sensitivity to ethanol. fan encodes the evolutionarily conserved adenylyl cyclase 5 (AC5) that regulates the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated-kinase (ERK) in the brain. Pharmacological perturbation of the phosphorylation of ERK uncovered that it is a critical “gatekeeper” of behavioral sensitivity to ethanol. Therefore, ethanol-modulated camouflage response screen is a powerful system for molecular genetic dissection of neural circuits that are sensitive to ethanol. We propose that polymorphisms in ac5 or genes of the ERK signaling pathway may contribute to susceptibility of alcoholism and alcohol-related medical disorders in humans.

Influence of smoking and alcohol consumption on admissions and duration of hospitalization

Previous studies have linked smoking and alcohol consumption to a considerable disease burden and large healthcare expenditures. However, findings from studies based on individual level data are sparse and inconclusive. Our objective was to assess the association between alcohol consumption, smoking and patterns of hospitalization, defined as admission and duration of hospitalization. The study was based on 12 698 men and women, aged 20 years or more, enrolled in the Copenhagen City Heart Study. We related smoking and alcohol to hospital admission from any cause, smoking- and alcohol-related diseases and duration of hospitalization in a two-part random effects model. Smoking status was strongly associated with admission and duration of hospitalization. For smoking-related admissions, odds ratios (OR) of 2.77 (95% CI 2.13-3.59) in men and 6.30 (95% CI 4.80-8.26) in women were observed among smokers of >20 g/day compared to never-smokers. For any admission (excl. smoking-related causes), corresponding ORs were 1.32 (95% CI 1.15-1.51) and 1.80 (95% CI 1.58-2.06), respectively. In men, a U-shaped association between alcohol consumption and risk of admission was found, both regarding any admission and admissions due to alcohol-related diseases. Alcohol was associated with alcohol-related admissions in women but not with duration of hospitalization. Smoking was associated with increased risk of hospital admission and duration of hospitalization. A U-shaped relation was observed for alcohol consumption and risk of hospitalization in men, but no effect on duration was observed. In women, however, alcohol consumption was only vaguely associated with admission and duration of hospitalization.

Cost‐effectiveness of interventions to prevent alcohol‐related disease and injury in Australia

To evaluate cost-effectiveness of eight interventions for reducing alcohol-attributable harm and determine the optimal intervention mix. Interventions include volumetric taxation, advertising bans, an increase in minimum legal drinking age, licensing controls on operating hours, brief intervention (with and without general practitioner telemarketing and support), drink driving campaigns, random breath testing and residential treatment for alcohol dependence (with and without naltrexone). Cost-effectiveness is modelled over the life-time of the Australian population in 2003, with all costs and health outcomes evaluated from an Australian health sector perspective. Each intervention is compared with current practice, and the most cost-effective options are then combined to determine the optimal intervention mix. Cost-effectiveness is measured in 2003 Australian dollars per disability adjusted life year averted. Although current alcohol intervention in Australia (random breath testing) is cost-effective, if the current spending of $71 million could be invested in a more cost-effective combination of interventions, more than 10 times the amount of health gain could be achieved. Taken as a package of interventions, all seven preventive interventions would be a cost-effective investment that could lead to substantial improvement in population health; only residential treatment is not cost-effective. Based on current evidence, interventions to reduce harm from alcohol are highly recommended. The potential reduction in costs of treating alcohol-related diseases and injuries mean that substantial improvements in population health can be achieved at a relatively low cost to the health sector.

Language-group mortality differentials in Finland in 1988-2004: assessment of the contribution of cause of death, sex and age

The higher mortality among Finnish-speaking than Swedish-speaking Finns is well established and has been shown to be very persistent. However, the most recent comprehensive documentation on the language-group differential extends only to the mid-1980s. We study recent trends in sex- and age-specific language-group mortality from 1988 to 2004, focusing on the relative contribution of the main causes of death and differences in sociodemographic structure. The register data are based on an 11% sample of Finns aged > or =30 years at the end of 1987--which further includes an oversample of deaths covering 80% of all deaths in the period 1988-2004. Finnish-speaking men had 19% and women 11% higher age-adjusted mortality rates than the Swedish speakers. Further adjustments for sociodemographic composition explained 47% and 36%, respectively, of these differences. Age group-specific analyses showed the steepest differences in the young and middle-aged groups (30-49 years) in both men and women. The cause-specific differences were most pronounced in alcohol-related diseases, suicide and other external causes, for which a slight increase in differentials was also observed. The relative difference in mortality between the two main language groups in Finland persists, with a slight narrowing of the gap among women. Moreover, the largest differences and indications of diverging trends were found among the youngest age groups. The causes of death in which the difference is greatest highlight the importance of health-related behaviour and cultural differences in lifestyle.

Comorbidity prior to diagnosis in patients with common cancer diagnoses

e22180 Background: Chronic disease as diabetes, hypertonia and anemia may be associated with cancer risk as well as affect the short term survival of the malignancy. Methods: Using population based registry data from specialist and primary care in our health care region comorbidity in the form of anemia, hypertonia, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diasease (KOL), and alcohol related diseases for patients with colon-, rectal-, lung-, prostate and breast cancer and survival were studied. Altogether 2047 colon cancer cases, 985 rectal cancer cases, 2017 lung cancer cases, 3578 breast cancer cases and 5106 prostate cancer cases diagnosed 2000–2005 were included. Results: were age and sex adjusted and one year survival was calculated. Comorbidity was studied prior to cancer diagnosis and in order to compare with the general population all first comorbidity diagnoses within 90 days were censored. Results The prevalence of the chronic diseases in the general population was for all ages diabetes 3.2%, rheumatoid arthritis 0.5%, hypertonia 6.8%, anemia 1.1%, KOL 1.0% and alcohol related diagnoses 0.7%. Patients with colon and rectal cancer had a higher prevalence of anemia, and diabetes. Patients with lung cancer had a higher prevalence of anemia, KOL, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis for both men and women and for men also a higher prevalence of alcohol related diseases. Except for alcohol related diseases in females with breast cancer comorbidity for the above diseases was not significantly elevated for breast or prostate cancer. For all diagnoses hypertonia was significantly lower than in the general population. Survival of the different cancer diagnoses was not significantly related to the comorbidity except for a tendency of worse survival for patients with alcohol related disease. Conclusions: The prevalence of some common chronic diseases are elevated especially in colon-, rectal and lung cancer patients. The comorbidity does not seem to affect short term survival of the cancer patient except for alcohol related diagnoses. Our study also indicates the necessity to have all levels of care included in the study base of comorbidity and also emphasizes the need to censor time prior to diagnosis when comparing data with the general population. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Alcoholism: A Systems Approach From Molecular Physiology to Addictive Behavior

Alcohol consumption is an integral part of daily life in many societies. The benefits associated with the production, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages come at an enormous cost to these societies. The World Health Organization ranks alcohol as one of the primary causes of the global burden of disease in industrialized countries. Alcohol-related diseases, especially alcoholism, are the result of cumulative responses to alcohol exposure, the genetic make-up of an individual, and the environmental perturbations over time. This complex gene x environment interaction, which has to be seen in a life-span perspective, leads to a large heterogeneity among alcohol-dependent patients, in terms of both the symptom dimensions and the severity of this disorder. Therefore, a reductionistic approach is not very practical if a better understanding of the pathological processes leading to an addictive behavior is to be achieved. Instead, a systems-oriented perspective in which the interactions and dynamics of all endogenous and environmental factors involved are centrally integrated, will lead to further progress in alcohol research. This review adheres to a systems biology perspective such that the interaction of alcohol with primary and secondary targets within the brain is described in relation to the behavioral consequences. As a result of the interaction of alcohol with these targets, alterations in gene expression and synaptic plasticity take place that lead to long-lasting alteration in neuronal network activity. As a subsequent consequence, alcohol-seeking responses ensue that can finally lead via complex environmental interactions to an addictive behavior.

ADH single nucleotide polymorphism associations with alcohol metabolism in vivo

We have previously found that variation in alcohol metabolism in Europeans is linked to the chromosome 4q region containing the ADH gene family. We have now typed 103 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across this region to test for allelic associations with variation in blood and breath alcohol concentrations after an alcohol challenge. In vivo alcohol metabolism was modelled with three parameters that identified the absorption and rise of alcohol concentration following ingestion, and the rate of elimination. Alleles of ADH7 SNPs were associated with the early stages of alcohol metabolism, with additional effects in the ADH1A, ADH1B and ADH4 regions. Rate of elimination was associated with SNPs in the intragenic region between ADH7 and ADH1C, and across ADH1C and ADH1B. SNPs affecting alcohol metabolism did not correspond to those reported to affect alcohol dependence or alcohol-related disease. The combined SNP associations with early- and late-stage metabolism only account for approximately 20% of the total genetic variance linked to the ADH region, and most of the variance for in vivo alcohol metabolism linked to this region is yet to be explained.

Alcohol and anaesthesia

Two-thirds of adults in England drink alcohol on a weekly basis, and 30% drink more than the recommended daily level. Among children, 46% of 15 yr olds and 3% of 11 yr olds admit to drinking periodically. Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost the NHS £3 billion per year. Alcohol-related disease was the primary or secondary diagnosis for over 180 000 NHS hospital admissions in 2004/2005. This includes a doubling in the number of admissions for alcoholic liver disease over the past 10 yr. Casualties in road traffic accidents involving a driver over the legal limit for alcohol numbered 17 000 in 2004, representing 6% of the total and including 590 fatalities. Twelve per cent of A&E attendances are for alcohol-related problems, and 22% of attendees have recently consumed alcohol. Risk of injury is greatest with episodic, heavy drinking, a pattern that is increasing in Britain. The high prevalence of alcohol-related disease means that the anaesthetist will frequently encounter such patients and must consider both the acute and chronic effects of alcohol consumption.

Diagnosis of alcohol-related neurological diseases by analysis of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in serum.

Analysis of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in serum has been shown to be a good marker of current regular alcohol consumption at levels that are potentially harmful both to the liver and the nervous system. In this study CDT was analyzed by anion exchange chromatography and the results were evaluated in 134 consecutively examined patients with neurological symptoms of possible or probable alcohol-related etiology. A total of 22% of the patients were regarded as current alcohol abusers and 93% of them had elevated CDT values. The majority of these cases suffered from diseases such as epilepsy, neuropathies, cerebral atrophy/dementia and cerebellopathy. Most of them were still in a socially functioning condition. Low alcohol consuming patients and abstaining patients with a previous history of alcohol abuse had CDT levels within the normal range. The results demonstrated that determination of CDT is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of alcohol-related neurological disorders provided that its biological turnover is taken into account.

Reported Beverage Consumed and Alcohol-Related Diseases among Male Hospital Inpatients with Problem Drinking

The aim of this study was to examine if problem drinkers have varying risks of having alcohol-related diseases according to their reported beverage consumed. In a cross-sectional study all consecutive inpatients aged 18- 64 years from four general hospitals of one catchment area were systematically screened for alcohol use. A total of 1011 men with problem drinking were used for this study. Routine treatment diagnoses for all participants were provided by hospital physicians and were classified into three categories according to their alcohol-attributable fractions (AAF; AAF = 0; AAF < 1; AAF = 1). According to their reported beverage consumed, 53.0% of the participants were identified as exclusively beer drinkers, 14.1% exclusively spirits drinkers, 26.0% mixed beer and spirits drinkers and 6.9% individuals drinking wine exclusively or in combination with one or two other beverages (mixed wine drinkers). Compared to spirits drinkers and controlling for possible confounders (i.e. alcohol-associated characteristics, demographic variables), multinomial regressions revealed that beer drinkers, mixed beer and spirits drinkers, and mixed wine drinkers had lower odds of having diseases with AAF = 1 than spirits drinkers (e.g. for AAF = 1: beer versus spirits drinkers: OR = 0.42, CI: 0.25-0.72). Beer drinkers and mixed wine drinkers also had lower odds of having diseases with AAF < 1 than spirits drinkers (e.g. mixed wine versus spirits drinkers: OR = 0.36, CI: 0.18-0.72). These data suggest an association between the reported beverage consumed and alcohol-related diseases. Among hospitalized problem drinkers, spirits drinkers had the greatest risk of having diseases with AAF < 1 and with AAF = 1.

Subjective Satisfaction and Quality of Life in Patients Prior to Listing for Liver Transplantation

Differences in health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) perception between alcohol abusing and non-substance-dependent subjects with liver cirrhosis could depend on differences in personality profile and influence management of patients awaiting liver transplant. We compared the perceptions of disease state in 78 male patients of similar disease severity divided into 2 groups based on etiology of cirrhosis: 47% had alcoholic cirrhosis, and 53% had hepatitis C virus(HCV)-related cirrhosis without alcohol abuse. Patients' perception of disease state was determined using the SAT-P questionnaire (a self-administered questionnaire that provides a global assessment of perceived HR-QoL and subjective well-being). The assessment yields 2 scales: an analytic scale based on 32 variables and a synthetic scale based on 5 factors. In patients with alcohol-related disease, ''psychological function'' was found to be more impaired,while ''sleep, diet, and free time'' was less impaired compared with subjects with HCV-related cirrhosis, suggesting dysfunction related to substance abuse with personality disturbance. The perception of disease state is different in alcohol-abusing patients with cirrhosis compared with those with cirrhosis unrelated to alcohol.

Hospitalization for lifestyle related diseases in long haul drivers compared with other truck drivers and the working population at large

Personal lifestyle and working conditions are closely linked for long haul truck drivers. We compare lifestyle related diseases in long haul drivers with other drivers of goods and the working population at large. Standardized hospital treatment ratios (SHR) for lifestyle related diseases were compared for long haul truck drivers and other truck drivers to the working population at large. The follow up group comprised of 2,175 long haul drivers and 15,060 other truck drivers. An increased risk was found for lifestyle related diseases among truck drivers except for alcohol related diseases. We identified a strong association between hospital treatment for obesity and working as a driver and an association between diabetes and working as a driver. No major differences in lifestyle related diseases were found in long haul drivers compared to other truck drivers with the exception of a significant lower risk for alcohol-related diseases and a possibly higher risk for lung cancer in long haul drivers. It is concluded that diseases related to excess caloric intake or lack of exercise may be a problem for truck drivers. This risk is preventable and of importance both in occupational medicine as in public health.

Effects of Alcohol Tax Increases on Alcohol-Related Disease Mortality in Alaska: Time-Series Analyses From 1976 to 2004

We evaluated the effects of tax increases on alcoholic beverages in 1983 and 2002 on alcohol-related disease mortality in Alaska. We used a quasi-experimental design with quarterly measures of mortality from 1976 though 2004, and we included other states for comparison. Our statistical approach combined an autoregressive integrated moving average model with structural parameters in interrupted time-series models. We observed statistically significant reductions in the numbers and rates of deaths caused by alcohol-related disease beginning immediately after the 1983 and 2002 alcohol tax increases in Alaska. In terms of effect size, the reductions were -29% (Cohen's d = -0.57) and -11% (Cohen's d = -0.52) for the 2 tax increases. Statistical tests of temporary-effect models versus long-term-effect models showed little dissipation of the effect over time. Increases in alcohol excise tax rates were associated with immediate and sustained reductions in alcohol-related disease mortality in Alaska. Reductions in mortality occurred after 2 tax increases almost 20 years apart. Taxing alcoholic beverages is an effective public health strategy for reducing the burden of alcohol-related disease.

Significant influence of the primary liver disease on the outcomes of hepatic retransplantation

There are many indications for hepatic retransplantation. To identify factors influencing retransplantation needs and outcomes. Retransplantation records from January 1993 to March 2005 were analysed. Patient and disease characteristics and survival outcomes for retransplantation were compared between various groups. Totally, 286 primary and 42 hepatic retransplantations were performed. Retransplantation indications included primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C (HCV), chronic active hepatitis (CAH), and alcohol-related disease. Mean follow-up post-retransplantation was 31 +/- 9 months. Actuarial patient survival at 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, and at the end of study was 71.4, 69, 59.5, 54.7, and 50%, respectively. Early and late retransplantation had 1-year survival of 73 and 68.5%, respectively. Retransplantation need was significantly higher for PSC, HCV, and CAH. Hepatic retransplantation remains a successful salvage option for transplant complications; however, its need is significantly influenced by the primary liver disease.

Invasive pneumococcal infections among persons with and without underlying medical conditions: Implications for prevention strategies

BackgroundThe 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) is recommended for persons aged < 65 years with chronic medical conditions. We evaluated the risk and mortality from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) among persons with and without the underlying medical conditions which are considered PPV23 indications.MethodsPopulation-based data on all episodes of IPD (positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture) reported by Finnish clinical microbiology laboratories during 1995–2002 were linked to data in national health care registries and vital statistics to obtain information on the patient's preceding hospitalisations, co-morbidities, and outcome of illness.ResultsOverall, 4357 first episodes of IPD were identified in all age groups (average annual incidence, 10.6/100,000). Patients aged 18–49 and 50–64 years accounted for 1282 (29%) and 934 (21%) of IPD cases, of which 372 (29%) and 427 (46%) had a current PPV23 indication, respectively. Overall, 536 (12%) IPD patients died within one month of first positive culture. Persons aged 18–64 years accounted for 254 (47%) of all deaths (case-fatality proportion, 12%). Of those who died 117 (46%) did not have a vaccine indication. In a survival model, patients with alcohol-related diseases, non-haematological malignancies, and those aged 50–64 years were most likely to die.ConclusionIn the general population of non-elderly adults, almost two-thirds of IPD and half of fatal cases occurred in persons without a recognised PPV23 indication. Policymakers should consider additional prevention strategies such as lowering the age of universal PPV23 vaccination and introducing routine childhood pneumococcal conjugate immunisation which could provide substantial health benefits to this population through indirect vaccine effects.

Functional and morphological alterations in small intestine mucosa of chronic alcoholics

Alcohol-related diseases constitute the third largest health problem after heart disease and cancer in the world. The objective was to study the effects of chronic alcohol intake on small bowel cellular functions with focus on brush border enzymes, membrane enzymes, cellular enzymes and their relationship with structural changes in small bowel mucosa of chronic alcoholics. Duodenal biopsies were obtained by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy of chronic alcoholics having alcoholic liver disease (ALD) with and without cirrhosis. The biopsies were then processed for enzymatic assays to analyze the status of cellular functions. Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were done to study the morphological alterations. Control group consisted of nonalcoholic gastroesophageal reflux disease patients reporting for routine endoscopy. The experimental group consisted of ALD patients which showed significant difference (P < 0.01) in cellular functions when compared with controls. The light microscopy showed partial villous atrophy, increase in lamina propria infiltrate, and intraepithelial lymphocytes as main findings in the alcoholic group. Ultrastructural evaluation revealed changes like widened intercellular junction, distorted microvilli, increased rough endoplasmic reticulum, and increased and dilated mitochondria. The enzyme parameters correlated positively with the mucosal morphology parameters indicating a direct relationship. The study brought out the changes in small bowel of chronic alcoholics having ALD at both cellular and subcellular levels which correlated significantly.

Temporal Trend in the U.S. Black–White Disparity in Mortality Rates From Selected Alcohol-Related Chronic Diseases

ABSTRACT The disparities between the U.S. African American (black)–white mortality rates for liver cirrhosis are often cited in the literature, but disparities in mortality from other chronic diseases largely attributable to alcohol have received less attention. This study analyzes U.S. age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) for those 25 years old or more for a 25-year period (1979–2003) for blacks and whites by gender for certain chronic diseases entirely attributable to alcohol and for certain cancers with a large fraction attributable to alcohol. Declines in ASMRs were much larger for blacks than whites, and black–white disparities disappeared for alcoholic gastritis, as also previously reported to alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Substantial disparities remained in 2003, at much lower ASMRs than in the past, for males for alcoholic cardiomyopathy, chronic pancreatitis, and cancers of the oral cavity-pharynx, which may reflect black–white disparities in risk factors (other than alcohol) and in medical care.