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Comparative Study
. 2016 Mar;20(3):504-11.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-015-1053-7.

Number of Drinks to "Feel a Buzz" by HIV Status and Viral Load in Men

Kathleen A McGinnis  1   2 , David A Fiellin  3   4   5 , Janet P Tate  3   4   5 , Robert L Cook  6 , R Scott Braithwaite  7 , Kendall J Bryant  8 , E Jennifer Edelman  3   4   5 , Adam J Gordon  9   10 , Kevin L Kraemer  10 , Stephen A Maisto  11 , Amy C Justice  3   4   5 ; Veterans Aging Cohort Study
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Number of Drinks to "Feel a Buzz" by HIV Status and Viral Load in Men

Kathleen A McGinnis et al. AIDS Behav. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

The impact of HIV and its treatment on the effects of alcohol remain unclear. Blood alcohol concentrations have been noted to be higher in HIV infected individuals prior to antiretroviral initiation. Our goal was to compare number of drinks to "feel a buzz or high" among HIV infected and uninfected men, stratified by viral load (VL) suppression. Data includes 1478 HIV infected and 1170 uninfected men in the veterans aging cohort study who endorsed current drinking. Mean (SD) number of drinks to feel a buzz was 3.1 (1.7) overall. In multivariable analyses, HIV infected men reported a lower mean number of drinks to feel a buzz compared to uninfected men (coef = -14 for VL < 500; -34 for VL ≥ 500; p ≤ .05). Men with HIV, especially those with a detectable VL, reported fewer drinks to feel a buzz. Future research on the relationship between alcohol and HIV should consider the role of VL suppression.

Keywords: Alcohol intoxication; Alcohol use; Alcohol-related disorders; Buzz; HIV.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of Drinks to Feel a Buzz by HIV, Viral Load, and Alcohol Use
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of Drinks to Feel a Buzz by HIV, Viral Load, and Age
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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