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.
Centre for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
K M
KM
Conigrave
J B
JB
Saunders
R B
RB
Reznik
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