According to the results of a new study, the estimated number of hypertension deaths linked to excessive alcohol consumption was higher in 2020-2021 compared to 2016-2017, with a higher increase among women than men. The study, published by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in American Journal of Preventive Medicine, estimated the proportion of hypertension deaths caused by excessive alcohol drinking among U.S. adults aged 20 years and older.

In addition, researchers calculated the annual total hypertension deaths during 2016-2017 and 2020-2021, and the CDC Alcohol-Related Disease Impact tool was used to estimate mean annual hypertension deaths linked to excessive alcohol use. It was determined that among U.S. adults, the mean annual number of hypertension deaths was 41.5% higher during 2020-2021 than 2016-2017. During the period spanning 2020-2021, the estimated mean annual number of hypertension deaths linked to excessive alcohol use was 51.6% higher than in 2016-2017 (55.7% higher among women and 45.1% higher men, respectively).

Furthermore, the study results revealed that 60% of hypertension deaths caused by excessive drinking were among women (61.2% and 62.8% in 2016-2017 and 2020-2021, respectively). Importantly, among women, there was an increase in the proportion of hypertension deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use, from 18.9% in 2016-2017 to 21.2% in 2020-2021, while among men, the proportion remained stable at approximately 13%.

“To reduce hypertension caused by excessive drinking, jurisdictions can create environments that support people in drinking less by implementing proven alcohol policies (e.g., regulating alcohol outlet density, increasing alcohol taxes),” wrote the study authors.  Similarly, previous studies have also shown that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in stress-related drinking and alcohol-related deaths.

Other research has shown that U.S. alcohol-related deaths have been on the rise. According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death in the United States, according to data released by the CDC, with about 178,000 people dying from excessive alcohol consumption each year. In the study, the authors note that hypertension deaths linked to drinking represent a fraction of overall deaths caused by drinking alcohol.