 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Heather Wurtzel, MPH1, Andre Sofair, MD, MPH2, M. Michele Manos, PhD, MPH3, Atif Zaman, MD, MPH4, Ann Thomas, MD, MPH5, Wendy Leyden, MPH3, Rose Murphy, BS3, Thomas St. Louis, MSPH6, Amanda J Durante, MSc, PhD2, Mary Beth Weber, MPH1, William Bower, MD1, Norah Terrault, MD, MPH7, and Beth Bell, MD, MPH8. (1) Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS G-37, Atlanta, GA 30333, 404/371-2510, hwurtzel@cdc.gov, (2) Connecticut Emerging Infections Program, Yale University, One Church Street, 7th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510, (3) Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, (4) Department of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97201, (5) Oregon Health Services, 800 NE Oregon St Suite 772, Portland, OR 97232, (6) Occupational Health and Special Projects, State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, 410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 11 OSP, Hartford, CT 06134, (7) Division of Gastroenterology, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, S357, San Francisco, CA 94143, (8) National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333
Background: Studies have shown that alcohol consumption is a risk factor for more rapid progression of hepatitis C-related liver disease. Most experts recommend that persons with hepatitis C greatly reduce or abstain from alcohol.
Methods: We conducted active surveillance for adult cases of newly-diagnosed chronic hepatitis C in gastroenterology practices in New Haven County, CT, Alameda County, CA, and Multnomah County, OR. Patients were interviewed using a standard questionnaire, including a validated lifetime alcohol consumption index. Heavy alcohol use was defined as reported average alcohol consumption of ³60 gms/day (men) or ³30 gms/day (women) for ³10 years.
Results: We enrolled 615 chronic hepatitis C patients. The median age was 46 years (range 19-82); 388 (63%) were male. Most were white (76.5%), 14.7% African American, 2.0% Asian, 2.2% Native American; and 3.0% reported >one race. Hispanic ethnicity was reported by 13.3%. Thirty-seven percent had an income of <$30,000/year. Of 569 (93%) patients reporting ever drinking >1 drink/month, 141/363 (38.8%) males and 51/189 (26.9%) females reported heavy alcohol use; 30% reported ever being charged with driving while intoxicated. At interview, 24% reported alcohol consumption of >1 drink/week, (median 5.6 drinks/week [range 1.4-280]), and 9% reported drinking >7 drinks/week. Sixty-eight percent were abstinent.
Conclusions: A history of heavy alcohol use is common among hepatitis C patients. After diagnosis, most report not drinking, but a small proportion drink more than most clinicians would recommend. Prevention messages directed at HCV-infected persons should continue to emphasize the importance of reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Hepatitis C, Alcohol Use
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.