Alcohol screening scores predict risk of subsequent fractures.
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C; 0-12 points) was included on health surveys in a cohort of 32,622 general medicine outpatients from seven US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of fracture (mean follow-up = 1.6 years) by AUDIT-C category. After adjusting for confounders, AUDIT-C scores of 8-9 and 10-12 were associated with significantly increased risks for subsequent fractures, HR (95% CI) = 1.37 (1.03 to 1.83) and 1.79 (1.38 to 2.33) respectively. These results can be used to provide feedback to patients linking their alcohol screening scores to medical outcomes-a critical component of evidence-based brief counseling for alcohol misuse. The study's limitations are noted.
Harris
Alex H S
AH
Center for Health Care Evaluation (MC152), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. Alexander.Harris2@va.gov
Bryson
Chris L
CL
Sun
Haili
H
Blough
David
D
Bradley
Katharine A
KA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult