Prevalence of preoperative alcohol abuse among patients seeking weight-loss surgery.
BACKGROUND
It has been hypothesized that alcohol metabolism is altered after weight-loss surgery (WLS), with a few studies suggesting a high prevalence of postoperative problem drinking. However, many of these studies were methodologically limited by lack of preoperative alcohol use data, high loss to follow-up, and/or nonsystematic ascertainment of alcohol (ETOH) intake. We sought to systematically characterize ETOH use among WLS patients before surgery.


METHODS
We recruited patients seeking WLS from May 2008 through November 2010 from two bariatric centers in Boston (response rate 75 %). Alcohol intake and problem-drinking behavior was systematically assessed in detail via phone interview among 653 obese patients before WLS. We used multivariable models to characterize alcohol drinking patterns and to examine the relationship between problem drinking and the likelihood of proceeding with WLS.


RESULTS
At baseline, 29 % were nondrinkers, 55 % were social drinkers, and 16 % were problem drinkers, including 4 % who displayed alcohol abuse behavior. After adjustment, men and younger adults were significantly more likely to be high-risk drinkers. Problem drinkers were as likely as social drinkers to proceed with WLS.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this large representative study suggest a high prevalence of high-risk alcohol use behavior among patients seeking WLS. Detailed assessment of alcohol use may be warranted in clinical settings and in studies of alcohol use and WLS.
Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Omar Yusef
OY
Kudsi
Karen
K
Huskey
Shannon
S
Grove
George
G
Blackburn
Daniel B
DB
Jones
Christina C
CC
Wee
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057234:Preoperative Period; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult