Age‐related impact of outcomes in hospitalized patients with alcohol overuse

Background The incidence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and related complications, such as alcohol‐associated liver disease and alcohol‐associated cirrhosis, continues to rise in the United States. However, limited data exist on the impact of AUD in aging hospitalized populations. We aimed to evaluate the association between AUD and clinical outcomes in aging hospitalized patients. Methods We analyzed 2017–2020 data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, including adults aged 18–80 with and without AUD based on ICD‐10 codes (AUD: n = 523,464; general medical population [GMP]: n = 238,678). Primary outcomes included length of stay, discharge disposition, healthcare cost, mortality, sarcopenia, and frailty. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted within and across age strata (<50, 50–60, 61–70, 71–80 years). Results Compared to the GMP, patients with AUD had higher healthcare utilization and more comorbidities across all age groups. A higher proportion of females were diagnosed with AUD in each age category. The prevalence of sarcopenia and frailty increased with age, with the highest rates in AUD patients over 70. Across all age groups, AUD was independently associated with worse outcomes, including increased sarcopenia, frailty, healthcare costs, longer hospital stays, and worse discharge dispositions. Mortality risk was elevated in AUD patients under 70 (odds ratios: 1.55, 1.41, 1.21 for <50, 50–60, 61–70, respectively), but not in those over 70 (OR: 0.95), suggesting survivor bias. Concurrent sarcopenia and frailty conferred greater mortality risk than either alone. Conclusions AUD is independently associated with worse clinical outcomes in hospitalized adults, especially older adults. These findings underscore the urgent need for age‐tailored alcohol intervention strategies.