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. 2019 Jun 17;8(6):867.
doi: 10.3390/jcm8060867.

Sex Differences in the Presence and Severity of Alcohol Hangover Symptoms

Albertine E van Lawick van Pabst  1 , Lydia E Devenney  2 , Joris C Verster  3   4
Affiliations

Sex Differences in the Presence and Severity of Alcohol Hangover Symptoms

Albertine E van Lawick van Pabst et al. J Clin Med. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Studies have demonstrated significant sex differences in alcohol intoxication effects. In contrast, the majority of studies on the alcohol hangover phase did not investigate sex differences. Therefore, the current study examined possible sex differences in the presence and severity of alcohol hangover symptoms. Data from n = 2446 Dutch students (male = 50.7%, female = 49.3%) were analyzed. They reported the presence and severity of 22 hangover symptoms experienced after their past month heaviest drinking occasion. Subjects were categorized according to their estimated peak blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) and presence and severity of the hangover symptoms were compared between men and women. In the lowest eBAC group (0% ≤ eBAC < 0.08%), no significant sex differences were found. In the subsequent eBAC group (0.08% ≤ eBAC < 0.11%), severity of nausea was significantly higher in women than in men. In the third eBAC group (0.11%&nbsp;≤&nbsp;eBAC < 0.2%), women reported higher severity scores on nausea, tiredness, weakness, and dizziness than men. Men reported the presence of confusion significantly more often than women, and women reported the presence of shivering significantly more often than men. In the fourth eBAC group (0.2% ≤ eBAC < 0.3%), women reported higher severity scores on nausea and tiredness than men. In the highest eBAC group (0.3% ≤ eBAC < 0.4%), no significant sex differences were found. In conclusion, across the eBAC groups, severity scores of nausea and tiredness were higher in women than in men. However, albeit statistically significant, the observed sex differences in presence and severity of hangover symptoms were of small magnitude, and therefore, have little clinical relevance.

Keywords: alcohol; hangover; presence; severity; sex differences; symptoms.

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Conflict of interest statement

J.C.V. has received grants/research support from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Janssen, Nutricia, Red Bull, Sequential, and Takeda, and has acted as a consultant for the Canadian Beverage Association, Centraal Bureau Drogisterijbedrijven, Clinilabs, Coleman Frost, Danone, Deenox, Eisai, Janssen, Jazz, More Labs, Purdue, Red Bull, Sanofi-Aventis, Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical, Sepracor, Takeda, Toast!, Transcept, Trimbos Institute, Vital Beverages, and ZBiotics. The other authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Presence and severity of individual hangover symptoms after alcohol consumption and reaching an eBAC of 0.11% ≤ eBAC < 0.2%. Sex differences are significant if p < 0.002. Abbreviation: eBAC = estimated blood alcohol concentration.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Severity scores for nausea and being tired for men and women across eBAC ranges. Significant differences (p < 0.002) are indicated by *. Abbreviation: eBAC = estimated blood alcohol concentration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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