title: Alcohol and coffee drinking and smoking habit among subjects with HCV infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims were to estimate among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection the prevalence of alcohol and coffee intake and smoking habit, the reliability of these self-reported data and the possible change of patients' habit after their first contact with a Viral Hepatitis Service.
  
  
  METHODS
  229 patients were initially interviewed personally at the Viral Hepatitis Service and after 6 months they were re-interviewed by phone in regard to their alcohol, coffee drinking and smoking habits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol drinkers were 55.5% of males and 35.3% of females. Most subjects drank coffee daily, both men (90.0%) and women (84.9%). The proportion of current smokers was higher in males (43.6%) than females (26.9%). We found a fair to good reliability of self-reported data regarding patients' habits, alcohol and coffee intake, and number of cigarettes smoked daily. We observed a statistically significant decrease in alcohol and coffee intake and cigarettes smoked between baseline and follow-up interviews.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a fairly high proportion of HCV-infected patients who regularly drink alcohol and coffee beverages and smoke cigarettes, especially among males. The reliability of self-reported data on these habits seems satisfactory. More decisive action to modify these habits, especially alcohol intake, is required in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Applied Medicine, Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiesa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baiguera
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gelatti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Covolo
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nasta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orizio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puoti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee