Brummer J, Bloomfield K, Karriker-Jaffe KJ, Pedersen MM, Hesse M. Using the alcohol use disorders identification test to predict hospital admission for alcohol-related conditions in the Danish general population: a record-linkage study.
Addiction 2023;
118:86-94. [PMID:
35993432 PMCID:
PMC10087303 DOI:
10.1111/add.16034]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Most studies validating the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) have either assessed its factor structure and/or test-retest reliability or used diagnostic interviews as validators of current alcohol use disorders. The aim of the present study was to determine whether AUDIT and AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C) scores are associated with subsequent risk of hospital admission for alcohol-related disorders and diseases (ARDDs).
DESIGN
We used a historical cohort study. Using national registers, survey respondents were tracked from 1 September 2011 to hospitalization for an ARDD, emigration, death, or 31 December 2018, whichever occurred first.
SETTING
Denmark.
PARTICIPANTS
Respondents (n = 4522) from a Danish national survey conducted in autumn 2011.
MEASUREMENTS
Outcome was incident ARDD admission recorded in the National Patient Register. Predictors were AUDIT and AUDIT-C scores, and covariates were age, gender, highest level of education and previous psychiatric disorder.
FINDINGS
During the study period, 56 respondents had a first-time ARDD admission. Respondents who scored above the 8-point AUDIT cut-off and respondents who scored above the 5-point AUDIT-C cut-off had a significantly increased risk of being admitted for an ARDD compared with respondents who scored below the cut-offs, (AUDIT: hazard ratio (HR), 4.72; 95% CI, 2.59-8.60; AUDIT-C: HR, 7.97; 95% CI, 3.66-17.31).
CONCLUSIONS
Scores above alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) and AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C) cut-offs are associated with an increased risk of long-term alcohol-related hospital admissions. At widely used cut-offs, the AUDIT-C is a better predictor of alcohol-related hospitalizations among members of the general population than the full AUDIT.
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