Heavy drinking among individuals with HIV: who drinks despite knowledge of the risk?

ABSTRACT

Heavy drinking can cause medical problems for individuals with HIV, and drinking despite medical contraindications indicates problem use. However, little is known about which individuals with HIV drink despite knowledge of health problems. This study utilizes two subsamples of individuals with HIV from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III): those reporting at least one drink (a) in their lifetime (n = 205) or (b) in the past year (n = 166). Participants reported on drinking despite health problems and psychopathology in the past year and in their lifetime, and family history of alcohol problems. Individuals with a drug use disorder (Adjusted Odds Ratios [AORs] = 3.56–12.65), major depressive disorder (AORs = 10.18–10.55), or a family history of alcohol problems (AORs = 33.60–96.01) were more likely to drink despite health problems. Anxiety and personality disorders did not increase risk. Individuals with HIV with drug use disorders or major depressive disorder are more likely to drink despite health problems. Individuals with a family history of alcohol problems were also more likely to do so, although further research is needed given large confidence intervals. Future research should consider how to help these individuals avoid alcohol-related harm.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• AIDS
• alcohol
• drinking
• NESARC
• nationally representative

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants: K23AA023753 (Elliott), R01AA023163 (Hasin), R01AA025309 (Hasin), and the New York State Psychiatric Institute (Hasin). The NESARC-III was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); and by the Intramural Research Program of the NIAAA. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official positions of the National Institutes of Health.