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Multicenter Study
. 2008 Apr;9(4):196-202.
doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1293.2008.00545.x.

Alcohol use among HIV-infected persons in care: results of a multi-site survey

G Chander  1 , J Josephs, J A Fleishman, P T Korthuis, P Gaist, J Hellinger, K Gebo; HIV Research Network
Collaborators, Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Alcohol use among HIV-infected persons in care: results of a multi-site survey

G Chander et al. HIV Med. 2008 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to determine the prevalence of any alcohol use and hazardous alcohol consumption among HIV-infected individuals engaged in care and to identify factors associated with hazardous alcohol use.

Methods: During 2003, 951 patients were interviewed at 14 HIV primary care sites in the USA. Hazardous drinking was defined as >14 drinks/week or >or=5 drinks/occasion for men and >7 drinks/week or >or=4 drinks/occasion for women. Moderate alcohol use was consumption at less than hazardous levels. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with any alcohol use and hazardous alcohol use.

Results: Forty per cent of the sample reported any alcohol use in the 4 weeks prior to the interview; 11% reported hazardous use. In multivariate regression, male sex [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.52 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.07-2.16)], a college education (compared to<high school) [AOR 1.87 (1.10-3.18)] and illicit drug use [AOR 2.69 (1.82-3.95)] were associated positively with any alcohol use, while CD4 nadir >or=500 cells/microL [AOR 2.65 (1.23-5.69)] and illicit drug use [AOR 2.67 (1.48-4.82)] were associated with increased odds of hazardous alcohol use (compared to moderate and none).

Conclusions: Alcohol use is prevalent among HIV-infected individuals and is associated with a variety of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Screening for alcohol use should be routine practice in HIV primary care settings.

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