Abstract
BackgroundExcessive alcohol intake has been associated with poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The impact of alcohol on viral suppression is particularly important among groups at high risk of HIV transmission, such as female sex workers (FSWs). Few studies have directly evaluated the association between alcohol use and HIV viral load. We hypothesized that hazardous or harmful alcohol use is associated with detectable plasma viral load among HIV-positive FSWs.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted among HIV-positive FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya. Hazardous or harmful alcohol use was assessed yearly and defined as an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score ≥7. Detectable viral load was assessed every six months and defined as ≥180 c/mL. Adherence measures were collected monthly and included late ART refill (>48 hours) and self-reported adherence, using both a validated self-rating scale of ability to take medication and visual analog scale (VAS) of ART use in the last month. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate adjusted relative risks (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsThis analysis included 366 participants followed monthly between October 2012 and March 2018. At baseline, AUDIT scores indicated hazardous alcohol use (AUDIT 7–15) in 14.3%, harmful alcohol use (AUDIT 16–19) in 1.4%, and alcohol dependency (AUDIT ≥20) in 1.4% of participants. After adjusting for potential confounders, a combined exposure including hazardous, harmful, and dependent alcohol use was not associated with detectable viral load (aRR 1.10, 95%CI 0.63–1.92) or late ART refill (aRR 1.13, 95%CI 0.82–1.56), but was associated with lower self-rated ability to take medication (aRR 2.38, 95%CI 1.42–3.99) and a lower rate of self-reported perfect ART adherence by VAS (aRR 2.62, 95%CI 1.84–3.71).ConclusionsIn this FSW cohort, while participants reporting hazardous, harmful, or dependent alcohol use were not more likely to have a detectable viral load, they were more likely to report lower ART adherence. These results suggest that interventions targeting alcohol use among this population of FSWs may not have a large impact on viral suppression.
Highlights
Suppression of HIV viral replication is critical to maintain health and prevent HIV transmission
Hazardous, harmful, and dependent alcohol use was not associated with detectable viral load or late antiretroviral therapy (ART) refill, but was associated with lower self-rated ability to take medication and a lower rate of self-reported perfect ART adherence by visual analog scale (VAS). In this female sex workers (FSWs) cohort, while participants reporting hazardous, harmful, or dependent alcohol use were not more likely to have a detectable viral load, they were more likely to report lower ART adherence. These results suggest that interventions targeting alcohol use among this population of FSWs may not have a large impact on viral suppression
The remaining 366 participants contributed a total of 11,482 visits (1,131 person-years of follow-up)
Summary
Suppression of HIV viral replication is critical to maintain health and prevent HIV transmission. Studies in high- and low-income countries have demonstrated that alcohol use is associated with poor ART adherence [1,2,3,4]. Fewer studies have examined the association between alcohol use and viral suppression, in low-income settings, and these provide conflicting results [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. With modern ART regimens, adherence >80% is sufficient to maintain viral suppression [12] In this context, it is important to examine the association between alcohol use and adherence, and the relationship between alcohol and viral suppression. The impact of alcohol on viral suppression is important among groups at high risk of HIV transmission, such as female sex workers (FSWs). We hypothesized that hazardous or harmful alcohol use is associated with detectable plasma viral load among HIV-positive FSWs.
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