Prevalence and Correlates of Physical Comorbidities in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): a Pilot Study in Treatment-Seeking Population

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the prevalence of physical comorbidities, undiagnosed and inadequately controlled chronic physical conditions and correlates of high cholesterol, hypertension and liver enzyme abnormalities in those with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Participants (n = 101) with AUD were recruited from a tertiary care centre through convenient sampling. The prevalence of physical and psychiatric comorbidities in the sample was 83.17% and 51.49%, respectively. Around 53.47% had two or more chronic physical conditions (multimorbidity). Hypertension (44.55%), asthma (23.76%), high cholesterol (22.77%) and liver enzyme abnormalities (21.78%) were the top four physical comorbidities. The prevalence of undiagnosed and inadequately controlled chronic physical conditions was 61.4% and 32.7%, respectively. Gender, education and body mass index (BMI) were associated with hyperlipidaemia while age and education were associated with hypertension. Higher waist-hip ratio was associated with liver enzyme abnormalities. Routine clinical care must include regular screening and follow-up of the risk groups to monitor their physical and mental health.

Fanconi Syndrome in an Adult With Chronic Alcohol Use Disorder: A Rare Etiology

“…This is significant as Fanconi syndrome may present with little to no symptoms, such as in our patient. In order to avoid complications such as bone demineralization due to phosphate loss [ 4 ], it is imperative to find and treat the underlying cause of Fanconi syndrome. If not treated, it can progress to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, leading to a poorer quality of life [ 4 ].…”

“…In order to avoid complications such as bone demineralization due to phosphate loss [ 4 ], it is imperative to find and treat the underlying cause of Fanconi syndrome. If not treated, it can progress to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, leading to a poorer quality of life [ 4 ]. Alcohol is one such cause of Fanconi syndrome that, if found, can easily be reversed with normalization of tubular function if alcohol use is stopped.…”

“…Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders globally, with a 12-month prevalence of 6.4% [ 4 ]. Chronic alcohol consumption is a well-known risk factor for tissue injury.…”

Problematic alcohol use: A relational illness

“…Furthermore, psychosocial factors such as co‐morbidity with physical and mental health problems (AshaRani et al., 2022; Lai et al., 2015), limited social support (Alexander, 2012) and socioeconomic factors such as access to healthcare, education, housing conditions, unemployment, discrimination (Collins, 2016) and unemployment (Boden et al., 2017) also correlate with PAU. Excessive drinking can also be in response to trauma (Subbie‐Saenz de Viteri et al., 2020) and occur when coping with difficult emotions and stress (Crum et al., 2013).…”