title: Predictive factors of abstinence in patients undergoing liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcoholic cirrhosis is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation (LT) in western countries. A major concern about transplant patients due to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is alcoholic recidivism. Data concerning psycho-social characteristics of patients with 6 months of abstinence at initial evaluation for LT is scarce. Objectives. The aims of this study were 1) To evaluate the psycho-social profile of a cohort of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis being evaluated for LT. 2) Determine factors associated with abstinence from alcohol at initial psycho-social evaluation for LT and 3) To evaluate the potential impact of alcohol-free beer consumption on 6-month abstinence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients referred to the Alcohol Unit of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (January 1995-December 1996) were included. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with cessation in alcohol consumption and with 6-month abstinence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factors associated with cessation in alcohol consumption were awareness of alcohol toxicity (OR = 5.84, CI 1.31-26.11, p = 0.02) and family recognition (OR = 3.81, CI 1.27-11.41, p = 0.01). Cessation of alcohol consumption at knowledge of ALD (OR = 5.50, CI 1.52-19.81, p = 0.009), awareness of alcohol toxicity (OR = 2.99, CI 1.02-9.22, p = 0.05) and family recognition (OR = 5.21, CI 1.12-24.15, p = 0.03) were the independent factors associated with 6-month abstinence previous to psycho-social evaluation for LT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion awareness of alcohol toxicity and family recognition are the independent factors that influence cessation in alcohol consumption and 6-month abstinence in patients evaluated for LT. The use of alcohol-free beer was associated with a higher rate of abstinence in patients without alcohol cessation.
authors.affiliation: Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, CIBER de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altamirano
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bataller
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cardenas
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michelena
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Freixa
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monrás
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liccioni
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caballería
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gual
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lligoña
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012944:Social Support; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology*