Alcohol-attributable hospitalisations increased in 2024

Posted 42 hours ago by Martin Wall Less than a minute to read

We have published a new surveillance report, Hospitalisations wholly attributable to alcohol, which presents data on hospital admissions where the primary diagnosis was a condition wholly caused by alcohol consumption.

The report found an increase in alcohol-attributable hospitalisations in 2024, with the age-standardised rate rising from 74.5 per 100,000 people in 2023 to 79.1 per 100,000 people in 2024. When short-stay Emergency Department visits are included, the rate increased from 135.3 to 142.9 per 100,000 people.

Key findings:

Alcohol-attributable hospitalisation rates increased in 2024 compared with 2023.
Rates were higher for males than females, with age-standardised rates of 92.7 and 52.5 per 100,000, respectively, over the 2020-2024 period (excluding Emergency Department visits).
The crude rate was statistically significantly higher for men in the 45-54 and 55-64-year-old age groups than for men in the other age groups.
Age-standardised rates of hospitalisation were higher in more socioeconomically deprived areas.
Northland and Auckland recorded the highest age-standardised rates of hospitalisation.
Age-standardised rates of hospitalisation were statistically significantly lower in rural areas when compared to urban areas.
The most common diagnoses were acute conditions relating to intoxication and dependence, and chronic liver disease.

Read the full report: Hospitalisations wholly attributable to alcohol.