Abstract
To describe characteristics, treatment patterns and resource utilization in Japanese patients with AUD. Observational, prospective study including patients aged ≥20 years with clinical diagnosis of current AUD (DSM-IV criteria), who were under treatment plan or planned to initiate it during the following 4 weeks. Patients with any physical and/or serious or unstable psychiatric disorder were excluded. Clinical data, resource use and quality of life (QoL) were collected at baseline, 2 weeks and 3 months. 150 patients were enrolled at baseline. 145 and 133 patients returned for visits at 2 weeks and 3 months respectively. Patients had a mean age of 53 years, 82% were males and 61.3% were not living alone. 58.7% patients received outpatient treatment and 41.3% inpatient treatment. The most common therapeutic goal was to abstain completely (89.9%). Non-pharmacological therapy was recommended to all patients and pharmacological therapy to 58.9%, being more common in outpatients (66.3%). At baseline, 33.2% of patients had high/very high drinking risk level (DRL) which decreased to 9.0% at 2 weeks and 8.3% at 3 months. At 3 months, 65.6% of patients with alcohol consumption at baseline presented DRL response (WHO definition). Healthcare professionals most frequently visited during the study period were psychiatrists (66.2%), general practitioners (38.3%) and self-help groups (31.6%). During the study period, 37.6% of patients were hospitalized with a mean duration of 24.1 days and 9.0% of patients were on sick leave. At baseline, patients with low/moderate DRL reported better QoL than patients with high/very high DRL (EQ-5D-5L index: 0.8 vs 0.7; EQ-5D-5L VAS: 68.5 vs 56.8; SF-36 general health: 55.1 vs 39.1). Outpatient treatment was most commonly used to reach alcohol abstinence. A significant number of healthcare resources were used during the study period and patients with high/very high DRL had worse QoL.
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