title: Alcohol screening scores and the risk of new-onset gastrointestinal illness or related hospitalization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Excessive alcohol use is associated with a variety of negative health outcomes, including liver disease, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and pancreatitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the 2-year risk of gastrointestinal-related hospitalization and new-onset gastrointestinal illness based on alcohol screening scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male (N = 215, 924) and female (N = 9,168) outpatients who returned mailed questionnaires and were followed for 24 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption Questionnaire (AUDIT-C), a validated three-item alcohol screening questionnaire (0-12 points).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-year risk of hospitalization with a gastrointestinal disorder was increased in men with AUDIT-C scores of 5-8 and 9-12 (OR 1.54, 95% CI = 1.27-1.86; and OR 3.27; 95% CI = 2.62-4.09 respectively), and women with AUDIT-C scores of 9-12 (OR 6.84, 95% CI = 1.85 - 25.37). Men with AUDIT-C scores of 5-8 and 9-12 had increased risk of new-onset liver disease (OR 1.49, 95% CI = 1.30-1.71; and OR 2.82, 95% CI = 2.38-3.34 respectively), and new-onset of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 1.28, 95% CI = 1.05-1.57; and OR 2.14, 95% CI = 1.54-2.97 respectively). Two-year risk of new-onset pancreatitis in men with AUDIT -C scores 9-12 was also increased (OR 2.14; 95% CI = 1.54-2.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excessive alcohol use as determined by AUDIT-C is associated with 2-year increased risk of gastrointestinal-related hospitalization in men and women and new-onset liver disease, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and pancreatitis in men. These results provide risk information that clinicians can use in evidence-based conversations with patients about their alcohol consumption.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA. alembke@stanford.edu
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Lembke
authors: Katharine A
authors: KA
authors: Bradley
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Henderson
authors: Rudolf
authors: R
authors: Moos
authors: Alex H S
authors: AH
authors: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult