Alcohol use and tuberculosis clinical presentation at the time of diagnosis in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, India.

ABSTRACT:

Setting

Alcohol use increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB) disease and is associated with worse outcomes.

Objective

To determine whether alcohol use affects TB severity at diagnosis in a high-burden setting.

Design

Participants were smear-positive people living with TB (PLWTB) in India. Disease severity was assessed as 1) high versus low smear grade, 2) time to positivity (TTP) on liquid culture, 3) chest radiograph cavitation, and 4) percent lung affected. Alcohol use and being at-risk for alcohol use disorders (AUD) were assessed using the AUDIT-C. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted.

Results

Of 1166 PLWTB, 691 (59.3%) were drinkers; of those, 518/691 (75.0%) were at-risk for AUD. Drinkers had more lung affected than non-drinkers (adjusted

SUBMITTER: Kan CK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7746146 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature