MTE #6: Developing an Integrated Hepatology and Addiction Care Program for Hospitalized Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: Improving Alcohol- and Liver-Related Outcomes (Ticketed)

Description

Morbidity and mortality due to alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) will rise substanially over the next 2 decades. While multiple factors contribute to this trend, 2 deficiences are clear: (1) persons with ALD are diagnosed at a late stage in their disease course, and (2) a minority of persons with ALD receive formal therapy for their alcohol use disorder (AUD). Implementation of a hepatology-led, inpatient alcohol service that consists of hepatology and addiction medicine specialists can effectively address these gaps. By evaluating patients without a history of liver disease or signs of active liver disease, this type of inpatient consultation can educate hospitalized AUD patients about liver disease; provide evaluation for the presence of subclinical advanced ALD; promote formal AUD therapy; and encourage/arrange follow-up in a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic. Speakers provide information on implementation strategies, outcome data, and strategies to improve AUD treatment uptake in persons at high risk for developing advanced (decompensated) liver disease.