Alcohol use and abuse among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Botswana

• Published in: The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease Vol. 16; no. 11; pp. 1529 - 1534
• Main Authors: Zetola, N. M., Modongo, C., Kip, E. C., Gross, R., Bisson, G. P., Collman, R. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris, France International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 01.11.2012; International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcoholism; Alcoholism - complications; Alcoholism - epidemiology; Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning; Biological and medical sciences; Botswana - epidemiology; Case Control; Case-Control Studies; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human immunodeficiency virus 2; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Multidrug Resistance; Mycobacterium; Pneumology; Prevalence; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxicology; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - epidemiology; Tuberculosis - etiology; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant - epidemiology; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant - etiology; Young Adult; Botswana; Africa; Human; alcohol; multidrug resistance; Alcoholism; Substance abuse; Mycobacterial infection; Infection; Case study; Control; Tuberculosis; Multiple resistance; Bacteriosis; case control; Pneumology
• ISSN: 1027-3719; 1815-7920
• DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.12.0026

BACKGROUND: Data on alcohol abuse as a risk factor for the development of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are scarce.OBJECTIVE: To describe the patterns of alcohol use in MDR-TB patients and to determine whether alcohol use is associated with the development of MDR-TB in Botswana.METHODS: We compared the level of alcohol use among MDR-TB patients against three control groups: 1) non-MDR-TB patients, 2) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients without a history of TB, and 3) the general population. Alcohol use and abuse was measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test 10 (AUDIT) questionnaire.RESULTS: Of a total national population of 164 MDR-TB cases, 114 (70%) were interviewed. MDR-TB cases had a lifetime prevalence of alcohol use of 35.1%, which was lower than that of all control groups (P < 0.001). MDR-TB cases had higher 1-month prevalence of alcohol dependence symptoms and a lower 1-year period prevalence of alcohol dependence symptoms (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01 respectively). Among patients with TB, alcohol abuse was found to be a risk factor for the development of MDR-TB.CONCLUSION: MDR-TB patients in Botswana have high rates of alcohol use and abuse. Among TB patients, alcohol abuse is associated with the diagnosis of MDR-TB, and could be an important modifiable factor.