Comparison of questionnaire and biochemical markers to detect alcohol abuse in a West Indian population.
This study bears upon the respective validity of biochemical markers and questionnaires to detect alcohol abuse in a population with a high rate of alcohol-linked neurological complications. GammaGT and apoprotein AII were the most powerful of eight studied biochemical markers in detecting two-thirds of excessive drinkers. The CAGE questionnaire identified 74% of moderate drinkers and 94% of excessive drinkers with a life style and patterns of alcohol consumption different from previously tested target populations. The joint association of the CAGE questionnaire and apoprotein AII detected more than 9 out of 10 moderate or excessive drinkers defined on the basis of a quantity-frequency grid.
Pileire
B
B
Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire, Laboratoire de Biochimie, Guadeloupe, French Antilles.
Bredent-Bangou
J
J
Valentino
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014900:West Indies / Q000453:epidemiology