title: An observational study to determine the prevalence of alcohol use disorders in advanced cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  observational studies in North America suggest alcohol dependence is a common problem in advanced cancer patients and is associated with a high burden of physical and psychological symptoms. The prevalence of all types of alcohol use disorders, and the relationship between alcohol use disorders and symptoms, has not been studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  this observational, cross-sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of alcohol use disorders in patients with advanced cancer and establish if such patients have a higher symptom burden.
  
  
  METHODS
  sequential patients referred to the palliative medicine team at a United Kingdom cancer centre completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form (MSAS-SF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  120 patients participated in the study. Twenty-two (18%) patients screened positively for the presence of an alcohol use disorder. This study found no significant association between alcohol use disorders and the presence of anxiety (P = 0.38) or depression (P = 0.81) on the HADS or the global distress index subscale (P = 0.142), physical symptom distress index subscale (P = 0.734), or the psychological distress index subscale (P = 0.154) on the MSAS-SF. Current smoking status was the only independent predictor for the presence of an alcohol use disorder (P < 0.001). Seven (6%) patients screened positively for high-risk alcohol use disorders. Current smoking status (P < 0.001) and male gender (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of this problem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  alcohol use disorders in this cohort of patients were not associated with a higher symptom burden, and the prevalence was lower than the general United Kingdom population.
authors: Department of Palliative Medicine, Royal Marsden NHS Hospitals Trust, Sutton, UK. kath.webber@rmh.nhs.uk
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Webber
authors: Andrew N
authors: AN
authors: Davies