Prognosis of alcoholic liver disease--100 years on and the need for international standards and guidelines.
Studies of alcoholic liver disease show a wide variation in survival time. This article reviews the relevant literature and draws attention to differences in the measurement of survival. Different starting points, different classifications of drinking behaviour and variations in the terminology used to describe the histological features of different stages of liver disease make it difficult to compare survival figures from various studies. Definitions of excess alcohol intake and of what constitutes 'abuse' are also vague. Variations in the way results are expressed may show apparent differences in outcome where none exist in reality. Variations in size of study populations and loss to follow-up are also discussed. It is suggested that resources should be devoted to prevention and early detection of liver disease and that international guidelines are necessary for the adoption of standard terminology, classification of drinking behaviours and alcohol use, methods of analysis and expression of results.
Harris
D
D
Department of Public Health, University of Aberdeen, Medical School, Foresterhill, UK.
Brunt
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate