Is alcohol use associated with cavitary disease in tuberculosis?
BACKGROUND
Alcohol mediates detrimental alterations in the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The association between quantity and frequency of alcohol use and the prevalence of cavitary disease in tuberculosis (TB) has not been analyzed. To investigate the relationship of alcohol use and the prevalence of cavitary disease in a 6-year population-based data set of individuals with TB.


METHODS
We assessed quantity and frequency of alcohol use (daily alcohol use, years of alcohol use, and lifetime alcohol use) with a standardized questionnaire. The study group consisted of 1,250 patients analyzed for cavitary disease (HIV sero-negative subjects that were 18 years or older). Significant covariates for cavitary disease were entered into multiple logistic regression models.


RESULTS
Although daily alcohol use, years of alcohol use, and alcohol use 30 days or 6 months before symptom onset were significant predictors of cavitary disease in univariate analysis, no independent associations were found between alcohol use and cavitary disease in the multivariate analysis. Only diabetes mellitus was independently associated with cavitary disease at any level or frequency of alcohol use.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol use is not independently associated with increased prevalence of cavitary disease in adult patients with TB.
Moran
Ana
A
Departments of Medicine, Center for Human Bacterial Pathogenesis Research, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Harbour
Deborah V
DV
Teeter
Larry D
LD
Musser
James M
JM
Graviss
Edward A
EA
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology