Medicines for alcohol use disorder can reduce patient costs and hospitalizations, according to a new study

By
Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health

New research shows that medicines designed to treat alcohol use disorder can lower hospital visits and reduce overall medical costs.

Alcohol use disorder, also known as AUD, refers to the medical conditions often called alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction or alcoholism. It is one of the top preventable causes of liver disease in the United States and leads to more than 170,000 deaths each year. It costs the country about $249 billion in health care spending, including money spent on health care and lost work time. Even though there are medicines that can help, many patients do not receive them.

A new study from researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute found that AUD medicines are significantly associated with lower alcohol-related health care use, particularly inpatient care, and lower medical charges. The results were published in the journal Hepatology.

"Prescribing medication alone is often not enough to treat alcohol use disorder," said Hanna Blaney, M.D., an assistant professor at VCU's Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health and co-first author of the study. "Patients also need clear, judgment-free counseling about alcohol use, education on how these medications help, regular check-ins to track their progress, and added behavioral support when possible." These steps help patients stay on track and get the most benefit from treatment.

The new study was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs and AnalytixIN. From a large U.S. database of adults aged 21 and older, the team studied more than 218,000 people who were newly diagnosed with AUD between 2017 and 2023. They compared patients who started medicine within one year to those who did not get medicine.

After one year, the results showed clear differences. Patients who received medication:

• Had fewer alcohol-related hospital stays (37.6% compared to 41.4%).
• Had lower total medical costs related to alcohol use.
• Spent less on hospital care, which accounted for most of the savings.

On average, patients who received medication had about $47,700 in alcohol-related medical costs, compared to about $50,400 for those who did not receive treatment.

Patients who received medication also had more outpatient visits. This suggests they stayed more connected to care and follow-up.

The study also looked closely at patients with liver disease. For those with moderate-to-severe liver disease, the benefits were even greater. These patients had nearly $27,000 less in hospital costs, and they were about 9% less likely to be hospitalized.

Researchers measured cost-effectiveness. They found that for patients with moderate-to-severe liver disease, every 3 cents spent on medication was linked to $1 in medical cost savings.

Researchers say this is an important finding for hospitals and health systems. Adding these medicines into regular care, especially in liver clinics and hospitals, can prevent alcohol-related health issues and can help prevent avoidable hospital stays and lower costs.

The findings suggest that using medication early may also stop the disease from getting worse over time.

The study gives real-world evidence that treating AUD with medication helps both patients and the health care system. Researchers hope it will guide doctors and health leaders to expand access to these treatments.