Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-consumption Predicts the Risk of Excessive Alcohol Consumption After Liver Transplantation.

ABSTRACT

Excessive alcohol consumption has a negative impact on graft survival after liver transplantation (LT). However, it is difficult to predict alcohol relapse before LT. This study surveyed the alcohol consumption of LT recipients to identify the risk factors for harmful drinking. We surveyed the alcohol consumption of LT recipients by using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C). AUDIT-C scores ≥ 5 points in men and ≥ 4 points in women indicated a high risk for harmful and hazardous drinking. Excessive alcohol consumption was considered to be > 20 g per day. Ninety-nine LT recipients completely filled out the questionnaire. Alcohol consumption after LT was detected in 26 recipients (26.5%); 4 of them had alcoholic liver disease before transplantation and 22 did not have alcoholic liver disease. The amount of alcohol consumption per day significantly decreased after LT (alcohol consumption per day 49.6 g before LT vs 8.1 g after LT, P < .05). Fourteen recipients (14.1%) consumed alcohol excessively after LT. The AUDIT-C score before LT and smoking were risk factors for excessive alcohol consumption in the multivariate analysis. To properly manage post-transplant recipients, assessing the risk of excessive alcohol consumption by using the AUDIT-C is necessary.