Is carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in serum useful for detecting excessive alcohol consumption in hypertensive patients?

1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 2057-2063 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Fagerberg ◽  
S Agewall ◽  
A Berglund ◽  
M Wysocki ◽  
P A Lundberg ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic usefulness of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in serum in a cross-sectional study of 439 treated hypertensive men. We related the results to alcohol intake by questionnaire and to biochemical and hemodynamic measurements known to reflect excessive alcohol consumption. The diagnostic sensitivity and the specificity for high alcohol intake (> or = 24 g/day of ethanol) were 44% and 87%, respectively. The group with reported high alcohol intake (n = 32) was characterized by hemodynamic and biochemical changes typical of alcohol abuse. The corresponding profile for the patients with increased serum CDT concentrations (n = 70) was different in several respects, indicating a considerable number of false-positive tests. We conclude that serum CDT determination had low sensitivity and specificity for excessive alcohol consumption in this group of hypertensive patients. The results illustrate the importance of evaluating new laboratory methods in unselected patient populations before drawing any conclusions about their clinical value.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Elisabet R Hillesund ◽  
Nina C Øverby ◽  
Erlend L Valen ◽  
Dagrun Engeset

Abstract Objective: Excessive alcohol consumption during reproductive years may impact the integrity of developing eggs and sperm, potentially affecting the life-long health of future children. Inadequate diets could aggravate these preconception effects of alcohol. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption and explore whether weekly alcohol intake is associated with energy and nutrient intake and adequacy of micronutrient intake among students. Design: Cross-sectional survey using a validated and reproducibility-tested FFQ. Setting: University of Agder, Norway, in 2018. Participants: 622 students (71 % female). Results: More than 80 % reported having consumed alcoholic beverages the past 4 weeks. One-third of men and 13 % of women exceeded the upper recommended limit of 14 UK alcohol units/week. An inverse association between increasing alcohol intake and energy-adjusted micronutrient intake was evident for thiamine, phosphate, Fe, Zn and Se in men, and for vitamin A, β-carotene, vitamin E and C, thiamine, vitamin B6, folate, P, Mg, K, Fe, Zn and Cu in women. A substantial proportion had vitamin D, folate, Fe and I intakes below average requirement regardless of alcohol consumption level. The combination of prevalent alcohol use, decreasing micronutrient density of diet across alcohol consumption level and a high probability of micronutrient inadequacy indicate reason for concern in a preconception public health perspective. Conclusions: Our findings call for investigations into young adults’ knowledge, reflections and beliefs regarding diet and alcohol use to understand how these behaviours could be improved ahead of parenthood.


Medicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Akihiko Shibamoto ◽  
Tadashi Namisaki ◽  
Junya Suzuki ◽  
Takahiro Kubo ◽  
Satoshi Iwai ◽  
...  

: Background: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GTP) to assess the single and combined benefits of these biological markers for the detection of chronic excessive alcohol consumption in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Methods: Biological markers were determined in blood samples from patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (drinking group, n = 35; nondrinking group, n = 81). The prediction accuracy of %CDT alone, γ-GTP alone, and their combination for the detection of excessive alcohol consumption was determined in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Results: Serum total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-GTP, and alkaline phosphatase levels and %CDT were significantly higher and serum albumin levels were significantly lower in the drinking group than in the nondrinking group. The combination of %CDT and γ-GTP compared with %CDT or γ-GTP alone showed a higher prediction accuracy. The combination of %CDT and γ-GTP exhibited a higher specificity than γ-GTP alone. However, in terms of sensitivity, no significant difference was found between single or combined markers. Conclusions: The combination of %CDT and γ-GTP is considered a useful biomarker of chronic excessive alcohol consumption in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Fankhaenel ◽  
Katrin Schulz ◽  
Lars Eric Petersen ◽  
Andreas Klement ◽  
Thomas Frese

Abstract BACKGROUND: General Practitioners' (GPs) readiness to implement screening and brief intervention (SBI) to treat patients with excessive alcohol consumption is low. Several studies identified crucial barriers such as insufficient financial reimbursement. In contrast to the barriers-account, we assume that low implementation readiness of GPs may be less attributed to external barriers but rather more so to inherent characteristics of SBI. To test our assumption, we conducted a vignette study assessing the GPs' readiness to implement SBI in comparison to a pharmacological intervention also designed for the treatment of excessive drinkers in relation to standard or above-standard financial reimbursement. According to our hypothesis GPs should be less ready to implement SBI regardless of financial reimbursement. METHODS: A convenience sample of GPs was recruited to answer the questionnaire. To assess the GPs' implementation readiness a 4-item 6-point Likert scale was developed and pretested. RESULTS: One hundred forty GPs completed the questionnaire. GPs were more ready to implement the pharmacological intervention than SBI, F (1,132)=27.58, p >.001 (main effect). We found no effect for financial reimbursement, F (1,132)=3.60, ns , and no interaction effect, F (1,132)=2.20, ns . CONCLUSIONS: Further research should investigate more thoroughly the crucial characteristics of SBI to initiate a modification process finally leading to more effective primary care dependency prevention.


Author(s):  
Yusaku Kajihara

Background: Movement restrictions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have inflicted stress and affected drinking behavior. However, limited information is available on the changes in alcohol use among the Japanese population.Method: This retrospective study included 371 subjects aged 20–74 years who underwent medical checkups at Fuyoukai Murakami Hospital before (April 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020). All data were extracted from medical records. Changes in alcohol consumption and severity were also investigated. A logistic regression model was used to identify the risk factors associated with increased drinking, and seven variables were sequentially introduced into the model—age (≤ 49 years), male sex, prior instructions for alcohol restriction, medication for lifestyle-related diseases (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hyperuricemia), depression or insomnia, essential workers, and smoking.Results: The median age was 46 years, and 81.7% subjects were men. In total, 25.1% subjects increased their alcohol intake, and 24.5% subjects reduced their alcohol intake. The rates of excessive alcohol consumption (≥ 60 g ethanol per day) were 15.9% and 16.7% in the pre-COVID-19 period and during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified only age ≤ 49 years as a risk factor for increased drinking (adjusted odds ratio, 2.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.22–3.99; p = 0.009).Conclusion: Approximately one-fourth of the subjects reported increased drinking, although the overall severity remained stable. The importance of alcohol reduction, particularly among young people, should be emphasized.


2020 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Viviane Colares ◽  
Jonathan Lopes de Lisboa ◽  
Patricia Maria Pereira de Araújo Zarzar ◽  
Carolina da Franca Bandeira Ferreira Santo ◽  
Paula Andréa de Melo Valença ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of cigarette use among adolescents and to identify associated health risk behaviors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with a representative sample, composed of 1059 adolescents between 13 and 19 years old, enrolled in primary and secondary public schools of Olinda, Pernambuco, in 2014. Information was obtained through self-administered questionnaires (validated version of YRBS 2007). Cigarette experimentation was defined as smoking at least once in life. Adolescents who smoked at least one day within 30 days prior to the survey were considered current smokers. Most students were female and 16 years old or older. RESULTS: Almost 30% used it in life and about 10% smoked within the 30 days before the survey. Suicidal ideation (PR = 1.51, 95%CI 1.25–1.82), alcohol use (PR = 1.41, 95%CI 1.03–1.92), marijuana (PR = 1.64, 95%CI 1.37–1.96), excessive alcohol consumption (PR = 1.57, 95%CI 1.15–2.16) and sexual experience (PR = 1.78, 95%CI 1.43–2.21) have increased the risk of using cigarettes. Feelings of sadness (PR = 1.70, 95%CI 1.22–2.36), alcohol use (PR=2.40, 95%CI 1.12–5.12), excessive alcohol consumption (PR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.24–5.38), marijuana (PR = 2.31, 95%CI.57–3.39) and cocaine (PR = 1.99, 95%CI.32–3.01) increased the risk of cigarette use within the 30 days before the survey. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette use among adolescents from Olinda was high, being considered higher than the national prevalence. Possible factors associated with cigarette use were drug use (alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine) and behaviors related to sexual experience, feelings of sadness and suicidal ideation.  


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document