Hepatic cirrhosis alcoholic to hepatic steatosis

epidemiological profile from 2010 to 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) represents a progressive spectrum of lesions, starting with steatosis and potentially culminating in hepatic cirrhosis, a pathological scarring process, irreversible in its advanced stages. Excessive alcohol consumption is the largest preventable risk factor worldwide. Objective: To analyze the epidemiological profile and hospital morbidity burden of ALD (ICD-10 K70) in Brazil, between January 2010 and September 2025, based on secondary data from the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). Methodology: Ecological, retrospective, and quantitative study, with data collection on hospitalizations, costs, sex, age group, and mortality for the ICD-10 code K70 (Alcoholic Liver Disease) and, contextually, ICD-10 K74 (Other Liver Diseases). Results: A total of 258,300 hospitalizations for ALD (K70) were recorded during the analyzed period. A high prevalence was observed among males and in the productive age group (40 to 69 years), which concentrates 75.82% of cases. The Southeast Region led the absolute number of hospitalizations. The average mortality rate for ALD (K70) between 2007 and 2020 was 17.49%. The nature of care for cirrhosis hospitalizations (K74) was predominantly Emergency (88.1%). Conclusion: ALD imposes a high epidemiological and economic burden on the healthcare system, making early screening and the implementation of abstinence policies crucial to prevent the progression of steatosis to irreversible cirrhosis and its complications.