Hypertension Deaths From Excessive Alcohol Use Are Increasing

THURSDAY, July 3, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The estimated mean annual number of hypertension deaths from excessive alcohol use was higher in 2020-2021 than in 2016-2017, with a higher increase among women than men, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Gregory Leung, Ph.D., from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues estimated the proportion of hypertension deaths caused by excessive drinking among U.S. adults aged 20 years and older. Mean annual total hypertension deaths were calculated during 2016-2017 and 2020-2021, and the CDC Alcohol-Related Disease Impact tool was used to estimate mean annual hypertension deaths from excessive alcohol use.

The researchers found that among U.S. adults, the mean annual number of hypertension deaths was 41.5 percent higher during 2020-2021 than 2016-2017. During 2020-2021, the estimated mean annual number of hypertension deaths from excessive alcohol use was 51.6 percent higher than in 2016-2017 (55.7 and 45.1 percent higher among women and men, respectively). More than 60 percent of hypertension deaths caused by excess drinking were among women (61.2 and 62.8 percent in 2016-2017 and 2020-2021, respectively). Among women, there was an increase in the proportion of hypertension deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use, from 18.9 percent in 2016-2017 to 21.2 percent in 2020-2021; among men, the proportion remained around 13 percent.

“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),” the authors write.

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