Alcohol Consumption Post-Liver Transplantation: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background: Listing patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) for liver transplant (LT) remains challenging especially due to the risk of alcohol resumption post-LT. We aimed to evaluate post-LT alcohol consumption at a Portuguese transplant center. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including LT recipients from 2019 at Curry Cabral Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal. A pretested survey and a validated Portuguese translation of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) were applied via a telephone call. Alcohol consumption was defined by patients’ self-reports or a positive AUDIT. Results: In 2019, 122 patients underwent LT, and 99 patients answered the survey (June 2021). The mean (SD) age was 57 (10) years, 70 patients (70.7%) were males, and 49 (49.5%) underwent ALD-related LT. During a median (IQR) follow-up of 24 (20-26) months post-index LT, 22 (22.2%) recipients consumed any amount of alcohol: 14 had a drink monthly or less and 8 drank 2-4 times/ month. On drinking days, 18 patients usually consumed 1-2 drinks and the remainder no more than 3-4 drinks. One patient reported having drunk ≥6 drinks on one occasion. All post-LT drinking recipients were considered low risk (score <8) as per the AUDIT score (median [IQR] of 1 [1-2]). No patient reported alcohol-related problems, whether self-inflicted or toward others. Drinking recipients were younger (53 vs. 59 years, p = 0.020), had more non-ALD-related LT (72.7 vs. 44.2%, p = 0.018) and active smoking (31.8 vs. 10.4%, p = 0.037) than abstinent ones. Conclusion: In our cohort, about a quarter of LT recipients consumed alcohol early posttrans-plant, all with a low-risk pattern according to the AUDIT score.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Rebelo,Carolina Chálim, Félix,Catarina, Cardoso,Filipe S., Bagulho,Luis, Sousa,Monica, Mendes,Milena, Glória,Helena, Mateus,Élia, Mega,Inês, Jara,Miguel, Marques,Hugo Pinto, Nolasco,Fernando, Martins,Américo, Perdigoto,Rui
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Portuguesa de Gastrenterologia 2023
Online Access:	http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2341-45452023000500017
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