Biomarker testing to estimate under-reported heavy alcohol consumption by persons with HIV initiating ART in Uganda.
Alcohol affects the transmission and treatment of HIV, yet may be under-reported in resource-limited settings. We compared self-reported alcohol consumption with levels of plasma carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (%CDT), a biomarker of heavy alcohol consumption, in persons initiating antiretroviral therapy in Uganda. Almost seven percent (6.7%) of persons reporting abstaining and 10% reporting consuming 1-40 drinks in the prior month tested positive for %CDT, and actual under-report may be higher due to low sensitivity of %CDT. These results suggest likely under-report in those reporting abstaining and current drinking. Improved identification of heavy alcohol consumption is needed for research and clinical purposes.
Hahn
Judith A
JA
University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0811, USA. judy.hahn@ucsf.edu
Bwana
Mwebesa B
MB
Javors
Martin A
MA
Martin
Jeffrey N
JN
Emenyonu
Nneka I
NI
Bangsberg
David R
DR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase