Alcohol Consumption Does Not Affect HIV Surrogate Markers in Treated or Untreated HIV-Infected Individuals
Alcohol use is common in HIV-infected individuals, but clinical data on the effects of alcohol consumption on virologic outcomes among this population have been conflicting. Researchers investigated the association between alcohol consumption and HIV surrogate markers of disease progression among two groups of individuals enrolled in the Swiss HIV cohort study: treatment naïve individuals who remained off antiretroviral treatment (ART, N=2982), and individuals recently initiating ART (N=2085). Data were collected over a 7-year period. Outcomes included log-transformed CD4 counts in both groups, and virologic failure (defined as failure to achieve virologic suppression or viral rebound after suppression after treatment initiation), or ART interruption (defined as discontinuation of ART for greater than 7 days without medical indication) in recent ART-initiates.
- Alcohol consumption was not associated with change in CD4 count over time in either group.
- Among recent ART-initiates, virologic failure occurred in 241 (8%) of participants and was not associated with alcohol consumption.
- ART interruption occurred in 449 (15%) individuals. Heavy alcohol use (defined as average daily consumption of >40 g for women and >60 g for men) was more commonly associated with ART interruption compared with abstainers or people with light alcohol use (hazard ratio [HR], 2.24) and remained significant even after adjusting for nonadherence.
Comments:
This study confirms other reports suggesting that alcohol consumption does not affect HIV biomarkers in HIV-infected individuals. However, heavier consumption was associated with ART interruption, which could have detrimental effects on HIV outcomes.
Jeanette M. Tetrault, MD
Reference:
Conen A, Wang Q, Glass TR, et al. Association of alcohol consumption and HIV surrogate markers in participants of the Swiss HIV cohort study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013;64(5):472–478.