The prevalence of alcohol consumption and heavy drinking among people with HIV in the United States: results from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study.
OBJECTIVE
To establish population-based estimates of the prevalence of any alcohol consumption and heavy drinking among individuals who tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to identify the factors associated with alcohol consumption and heavy drinking in this population.


METHODS
Data from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS), a national probability survey of HIV-infected adults receiving medical care in the U.S. in early 1996 (N = 2,864: 2,017 men, 847 women), were used to estimate the prevalence of any alcohol consumption and heavy drinking. Logistic regression was used to identify independent influences of sociodemographic, health status, and substance use variables on alcohol consumption and heavy drinking.


RESULTS
Approximately 53% of persons in care for HIV reported drinking alcohol in the preceding month and 8% were classified as heavy drinkers. Of those who drank, 15% were heavy drinkers. The odds of heavy drinking were significantly higher among users of cocaine or heroin and significantly lower among the better educated and those with an AIDS-defining illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol consumption is common among people in care for HIV, with rates of heavy drinking almost twice those found in the general population. Heavy drinking is especially higher among individuals with lower educational levels and users of cocaine or heroin.
Galvan
Frank H
FH
Collaborative Alcohol Research Center, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059, USA.
Bing
Eric G
EG
Fleishman
John A
JA
London
Andrew S
AS
Caetano
Raul
R
Burnam
M Audrey
MA
Longshore
Doug
D
Morton
Sally C
SC
Orlando
Maria
M
Shapiro
Martin
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology