Bariatric Surgery Is Associated with Alcohol-Related Liver Disease and Psychiatric Disorders Associated with AUD

Background/Aims Bariatric surgery can increase the risk of addictive disorders and nutritional deficiencies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between bariatric surgery and alcohol use disorder (AUD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and psychiatric disorders associated with AUD. The impact of vitamin D deficiency in these associations was also investigated. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed using the National Inpatient Sample database and its ICD-9 codes information. Diagnostic and comorbidity data from hospital discharges were obtained from patients with bariatric surgery and other abdominal surgeries between 2005 and 2015. The two groups were then compared for alcohol-related outcomes after propensity-score matching. Results The final study cohort included 537,757 patients with bariatric surgery and 537,757 with other abdominal surgeries. The bariatric surgery group had an increased risk of AUD [odds ratio (OR): 1.90; 95% CI: 1.85–1.95], ALD [OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.22–1.37], cirrhosis [OR, 1.39; 95% CI: 1.37–1.42], and psychiatric disorders associated with AUD [OR, 3.59; 95% CI: 3.37–3.84]. Vitamin D deficiency did not impact in the association between bariatric surgery and AUD, ALD, or psychiatric disorders associated with AUD. Conclusions Bariatric surgery is associated with an increased prevalence of AUD, ALD, and psychiatric disorders associated with AUD. These associations appear to be independent from vitamin D deficiency. Graphical Abstract