Pinon-Gutierrez R, et al. - The researchers determined the clinical features of alcoholic hepatitis (AH) in Latino patients compared to Caucasian patients. Significantly higher rates of utilization of acute care services for manifestations alcoholic hepatitis and complications were observed among Latinos, suggesting poor access to outpatient care.

• From 1/1/2002-12/31/2014, 876 charts of Caucasian and Latino patients who were evaluated at University of California Davis Medical Center with the diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease were retrospectively screened.
• Data on 137 Caucasians and 64 Latinos who met criteria for alcoholic hepatitis, including chronic history of heavy alcohol use, at least 1 episode of jaundice with bilirubin ≥ 3.0 or coagulopathy, new onset of liver decompensation or acute liver decompensation in known cirrhosis within 12 wk of last drink were identified and collected.

• Between Latinos and Caucasians, the mean age at presentation of alcoholic hepatitis was not significantly different.
• The researchers found a significantly lower rate of overall substance abuse in Caucasians compared to Latinos and Latinos had a higher rate of methamphetamine abuse (12.5% vs 0.7%) compared to Caucasians.
• For alcohol related issues and complications, Latinos had a higher mean number of hospitalizations (5.3 ± 5.6 vs 2.7 ± 2.7, P=0.001) and mean Emergency Department visits (9.5 ± 10.8 vs 4.5 ± 4.1, P=0.017) compared to Caucasians.
• In Latinos, they observed a significantly higher rate of complications of portal hypertension including gastrointestinal bleeding (79.7% vs 45.3%, P < 0.001), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (26.6% vs 9.5%, P=0.003), and encephalopathy (81.2% vs 55.5%, P=0.001) compared to Caucasians.