GERD Linked to Higher Risk of Developing Alcohol Use Disorder: Study
A new study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have an 18% higher risk of being diagnosed with a new alcohol use disorder (AUD), particularly among those aged 58 years or younger. Integrating discussions about alcohol use in GERD management may provide a less stigmatizing approach to identifying and addressing AUD.
The study analyzed deidentified medical records of primary care patients who had no previous diagnosis of AUD during 2020 and 2021. This research tracked whether patients who had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), GERD, or gastritis/ulcer, were more likely to receive a new AUD diagnosis during the following 2 years (2022–2023). Separate multivariate regression models were used to determine the strength of these associations while controlling for other relevant factors.
The average age of patients included in the analysis was 56 years, and the majority (87.6%) identified as White. Among these individuals, GERD was by far the most common GI condition, which affected nearly one in 4 patients (24.8%). In contrast, only 3.4% had IBS and 2.5% had gastritis or ulcers.
When the data were analyzed, no significant relationship was found between IBS or gastritis/ulcer and later development of alcohol use disorder. However, GERD showed a clear and statistically significant link. After adjusting for all other factors, patients with GERD were found to have an 18% higher likelihood (odds ratio 1.18; 95% confidence interval 1.10–1.26) of being diagnosed with AUD within 2 years when compared to those without GERD.
This finding suggests that the presence of GERD could serve as a useful clinical indicator for primary care physicians to screen for possible alcohol misuse. Identifying AUD early can be critical, as timely intervention with behavioral therapies or medication can greatly improve patient outcomes.
Overall, the findings of this study emphasized the need for further research to assess how comfortable patients are discussing alcohol consumption following a GERD diagnosis, and whether such conversations could improve screening rates compared with traditional methods.
Source:
Schiel, K., Chrusciel, T., Gruzca, R., & Scherrer, J. F. (2025). Gastrointestinal conditions and new diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine: JABFM. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2024.240426R1
