Alcohol Screening Scores and Medication Nonadherence

Abstract

Alcohol misuse, as measured by a brief screening questionnaire, was associated with increased risk for medication nonadherence.

Statin intolerance – an attempt at a unified definition. Position paper from an International Lipid Expert Panel

“…The majority of patients on statins do not abuse alcohol. It was shown that alcohol misuse was associated with increased risk for statin non-adherence [103,104]. It can be assumed that high doses of alcohol provoke liver dysfunction and increase the risk of myopathy in patients on high-intensity statin therapy [104].…”

Alcohol Screening Scores and the Risk of New-Onset Gastrointestinal Illness or Related Hospitalization

“…Based on the recent work of Bradley and colleagues, 9 and on the fact that low-level drinkers have lower risk of death and other medical problems than non-drinkers, 5,6,8 we categorized AUDIT-C scores into four groups (0, 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12) with 1-4 as the reference group. Initial analyses described the sample, evaluated associations between each covariate and AUDIT-C group with chi-square tests, and calculated the unadjusted prevalence of the outcomes in each AUDIT-C group.…”

“…The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) is a screen of alcohol misuse which evaluates quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, and has been validated in medical settings. [4][5][6][7][8] AUDIT-C scores of 5 or greater ('hazardous drinking': e.g., 3 or more drinks per occasion, on four or more days per week) have been associated with increased risk for subsequent medical problems, including medication non-adherence, 9 fractures, 10 hospitalization for gastrointestinal illnesses, 11 and all-cause mortality. 12 Giving patients specific feedback about alcohol consumption, for example linking their drinking to health risks, can reduce hazardous alcohol use.…”

Brief Approaches to Alcohol Screening: Practical Alternatives for Primary Care

“…The AUDIT-C score (0-12 points) also reflects severity of symptoms due to unhealthy drinking. 28 In addition, AUDIT-C scores have been associated with increased risk for medication non-adherence (AUDIT-C scores ≥ 4), 29 hospitalizations for liver disease, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, or pancreatitis (≥ 6 for men in general; ≥ 4 for men under 50 years old), 30 fractures (≥ 8), 31 and death in men under 50 years old (≥ 10). 32 Therefore, AUDIT-C scores can assist providers to offer patients personalized feedback on alcoholrelated risks.…”