Drinking Takes Toll on Women With Hepatitis C

Usually when women are diagnosed with the hepatitis C virus they usually they survive the liver-destorying disease longer than men with HCV, but if they are heavy drinkers that advantage is erased, according to a National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism study.

Women with hepatitis C who were not heavy drinkers died at an average age of 61, but women who drank excessively died at just over 49. For men with HCV, heavy drinking lowered the average age of death from 55 to 50. "Men are less likely to clear acute HCV infection than women, so we are a little bit surprised that the slight advantage for women is completely wiped out by heavy drinking," said lead author Chiung Chen in a new release.

More About Hep C:

• Heavy Drinking Takes Excessive Toll on Women With Hepatitis C
  
• Frequently Asked Questions
  
• Drinking May Worsen Hepatitis C Infection

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