Drinking patterns and beverage preferences of liver cirrhosis patients in Mexico.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern of alcoholism in a special group of alcoholics (alcoholic cirrhotics) in a hospital-based population in west central Mexico and assess the role of regional spirits such as tequila. A complete alcohol drinking history and a structured questionnaire directed at investigating the pattern of alcohol consumption was applied to 124 adult patients with chronic liver disease caused by alcohol during January 1995 to January 1996. The mean age of onset was 27 +/- 3 years in women and 18 +/- 0.5 years in men. The mean alcohol intake per week was 749 +/- 192 g for women and 1113 +/- 151 g for men. On average, patients consumed alcohol for a mean of 24.5 years. The overall patient drinking preference was for tequila followed by 96 degree Gay Lusac (G.L.), alcohol, and beer. In a subset of 70 patients three phases of alcoholism could be identified (prealcoholic, critical, and chronic). Each phase had a mean duration of at least 11 years. Beer was the dominant beverage in the prealcoholic phase while tequila was consumed more often in the other phases. In the critical phase of alcoholism an average of 337 g of alcohol were consumed per week and in the chronic phase 1765 g/week. Tequila was the overall preferred beverage in this group of alcoholics. Other beverages included beer and straight alcohol with a clear trend from less to higher concentration of alcohol throughout the drinking history. Subtle gender differences in the patterns of alcoholism may be suspected. In this group of patients the role of tequila drinking is highlighted.

[Epidemiological characteristics of liver cirrhosis at the Hospital Civil of Guadalajara]. / Características epidemiológicas de la cirrosis hepática en el Hospital Civil de Guadalajara.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study of the demographic and epidemiologic characteristics of patients with liver cirrhosis at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara within a period of one year. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 157 patients (48 women, and 109 men) from the Departments of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Liver Clinic were studied. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis had been previously established based on clinical, biochemical or histopathological information. Additionally, a questionnaire specialized on liver diseases was applied to all patients. RESULTS: Alcoholism was the main cause for cirrhosis (38% in women and 95% in men) followed by viral etiology. The alcoholic beverages consumed with greater frequency were tequila and 96 degrees G.L. alcohol. Women were in the Child-Pugh's "B" class while men were in class "C". Complications were mostly gastrointestinal bleeding, ascites and hepatic encephalopathy. Differences between sexes were observed for various characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Alcoholism was by far the most frequent cause of liver cirrhosis. The second cause, in women, was of viral origin (16.7%). A national committee of vigilance of liver diseases is proposed to generate more complete and detailed information on the epidemiology of liver cirrhosis.