Blue collar workers at increased risk of liver cirrhosis

A study by researchers at the School of Population Health and Stockholm University has found that death rates among men from liver cirrhosis were double for manual or blue collar workers.

Washington, May 10 : A study by researchers at the School of Population Health and Stockholm University has found that death rates among men from liver cirrhosis were double for manual or "blue collar" workers.

As a part of their study, Jake Najman, Gail Williams and Robin Room examined death rates among Australian men from liver cirrhosis between 1981 and 2002.

Professor Najman said the study results suggested that men from lower socio-economic backgrounds were in greater danger of liver cirrhoses because of their heavy and binge drinking.

"Lower socio-economic groups appear to have increased their harmful alcohol consumption relative to middle and higher SES groups. This may be due to the increased affordability and availability of alcohol," Professor Najman said.

"In Australia, alcohol has become relatively cheaper and more available.

"It is already known that socio-economic inequalities in alcohol-related diseases are among the largest of any cause of death. For example, in Britain, between 1991 and 1993, liver cirrhosis rates among unskilled workers were about four times those experienced by professionals.

"The very low tax on wine means cask wine is often the beverage of choice for the poorest and most marginalised people."

Their results are published in the May 2007 edition of the journal, Drug and Alcohol Review.

ANI