Brief alcohol interventions are underutilized in persons with nonalcohol-associated chronic liver diseases

Background: Brief alcohol interventions use patient-provider communication to promote alcohol cessation. We characterized the receipt of this intervention in chronic liver disease (CLD).

Methods: We surveyed patients with CLD for weekly drinking patterns and examined associations with patient-provider communication receipt.

Results: Among 840 participants, 82.1% and 56.5% reported ≥1 standard drink weekly and excessive alcohol consumption, respectively. Patient-provider communication was lower in noncirrhotic (adjusted odds ratio:0.34, 95% CI: 0.22-0.54) and nonalcohol-associated CLD (adjusted odds ratio: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.15-0.34) among individuals drinking ≥1 standard drink weekly, and similarly in noncirrhotic CLD (adjusted odds ratio: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.21-0.95) among those with excessive drinking.

Conclusions: Brief alcohol interventions are underutilized in noncirrhotic and nonalcohol-associated CLD.