Predictive capacity of the AUDIT questionnaire for alcohol-related harm.
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a 10-item questionnaire designed to screen for hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption. We examined its ability to predict alcohol-related illness and social problems, hospital admission and mortality over a 2-3-year period. At initial interview, 330 ambulatory care patients were assessed using a detailed interview including the AUDIT questions and laboratory tests. After 2-3 years, 250 (76%) subjects were reassessed and their experience of alcohol-related harm determined. Of those who scored eight or more on AUDIT at initial interview, 61% experienced alcohol-related social problems compared with 10% of those with lower scores (p < 0.0001); they also had a significantly greater experience of alcohol-related medical disorders and hospitalization. AUDIT score was a better predictor of social problems and of hypertension than laboratory markers. Its ability to predict other alcohol-related illnesses was similar to the laboratory tests. However, gamma glutamyltransferase was the only significant predictor of mortality. We conclude that AUDIT should prove a valuable tool in screening for hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption so that intervention can be provided to those at particular risk of adverse consequences.
Conigrave
K M
KM
Centre for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Saunders
J B
JB
Reznik
R B
RB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000401:mortality*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors