Prevalence and pattern of alcohol consumption in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Med Clin (Barc). 2023 Jul 21;161(2):49-53. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2023.02.015. Epub 2023 Apr 10.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Aim: Prospective cross-sectional study conducted to determine the prevalence and pattern of alcohol consumption (AC) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to assess the utility of the AUDIT in HCC patients.

Methods: One hundred and two consecutive patients form our HCC monographic outpatient clinic visited between February and March 2022 were included. Patients with hepatic encephalopathy at the time of the interview, on the waiting list for liver transplantation and those undergoing post-transplant follow-up were excluded.

Results: The prevalence of AC in patients diagnosed with HCC is 35%, although less than 10% consume more than 100g per week. AC was more frequent in males, in an urban environment, with a diagnosis of HCC more than a year ago, and in patients in early/very early stages of BCLC. AUDIT score greater than or equal to 3 (AUROC 0.849) predicts any AC with a sensitivity of 75% (95% CI: 59.47-90.53%) and a specificity of 84% (95% CI: 74.70-94.05%).

Conclusions: Despite the diagnosis of HCC, more than a third of the patients consume alcohol. An AUDIT score equal to or greater than 3 discriminates any AC with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 84% in this population.

Keywords: AUDIT; BCLC; Carcinoma hepatocelular; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Standard drink unit; Unidad de bebida estándar.

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / etiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Liver Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Liver Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies