Self-reported Alcohol Consumption Research Articles

Non-modifiable and Modifiable Risk Factors in Vascular Ageing Extremes: The African-PREDICT Study

Abstract Background Cardiovascular risk factors accelerate vascular ageing beyond chronological age, hence early vascular ageing (EVA). Carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is a measure of vascular ageing and is used to identify EVA and supernormal vascular ageing (SUPERNOVA). Vascular ageing is not completely understood in African populations. Therefore, we aimed to phenotype young South African adults stratified by cfPWV extremes in terms of non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors. This study included 1133 young adults (mean age: 24.5 years). We measured cfPWV using applanation tonometry. Body composition measures, self-reported 24-h dietary intake, smoking and alcohol consumption were included. Fasting blood samples were analysed for biochemical risk factors. Three groups based on cfPWV percentiles were compared and included SUPERNOVA (≤ 10th percentile), average vascular ageing (AVA, between 10 to 90th percentile) and EVA (≥ 90th percentile). Results Chronological age, male sex, smoking, alcohol use, and blood pressure were incrementally higher across PWV groups (all p trend ≤ 0.007). Black ethnicity was higher (p = 0.038) in the SUPERNOVA group. In exploratory factor analysis, a factor pattern including mean arterial pressure and fasting glucose showed beneficial odds (OR 0.62, p = 0.002) for SUPERNOVA and higher likelihood (OR 2.10, p < 0.001) for EVA. Another factor pattern of socio-economic status and total dietary fat showed lower odds (OR 0.64, p = 0.003) for EVA. Conclusion Poor lifestyle behavioural risk factors seem detrimental in the EVA group conferring a possible higher risk of future CVD.

Motives for alcohol use across the 24 hours prior to a suicide attempt.

Acute alcohol use is a risk factor for suicidal behavior. This study examined sources of variance (between-person, within-person) in hour-to-hour self-reported alcohol consumption and drinking motives and assessed the interrelations of different motives for alcohol use across the 24 hr preceding a suicide attempt. This multisite study utilized interview data obtained retrospectively from adult patients hospitalized following a suicide attempt. The current analysis examined participants (n = 110) who reported using alcohol within 24 hr of the attempt (Mage = 39.59; 48.2% female, 72.7% White; 4.5% Hispanic/Latinx). Participants reported suicide-facilitative drinking motives using three items from the Suicide Facilitative Drinking Motives Scale and reported typical, nonfacilitative motives using three items from the Drinking Motives Questionnaire-Revised. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. Most variance in reported drinking motives occurred between participants, though there was substantial within-person variability. Within-person increases in alcohol use were associated with suicide-facilitative motives for alcohol use, but not nonfacilitative motives. Social and enhancement motives were consistently negatively associated with facilitative motives, while coping motives were positively associated with reported drinking to reduce fear regarding suicide. Results suggest the assessment of motives for alcohol use in at-risk patients may provide key clinical targets (i.e., the function of drinking) for preventing suicidal behavior. When alcohol is consumed for coping motives or used to facilitate suicidal behavior, it is particularly concerning and warrants clinical intervention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Self-reported alcohol consumption during participation in a text messaging-based online drinking moderation platform.

Many individuals with excessive alcohol consumption desire moderation but do not seek formalized treatment. Commercially available, technology-assisted options are flexible and highly accessible, yet often not empirically validated. Individuals desiring alcohol moderation (age 21+) self-selected to use Sunnyside®, a web application with tailored and adaptive text messaging. The evaluable dataset included 46,411 members who completed a baseline assessment, enrolled in the program, and tracked their drinking at least once. An adaptive and customizable weekly plan was generated from typical drinking patterns, goals, and weekly reported progress. Personalized daily messages included reminders for real-time drink tracking, plans, and available interactive messaging with peer coaches. Generalized mixed-effect growth models characterized change in drinks per week and daily drinking for 12 weeks after enrollment. Models allowed for nonlinear change and individual variability across members and weeks. A majority (64.3%) of members reported typically drinking 7 of 7 days per week at baseline. During tracking, drinks per week decreased most in the initial weeks and slowed thereafter, with an overall 33% reduction in weekly drink counts. More severe alcohol-use patterns and concern over drinking at baseline were associated with greater relative benefit. Drinking patterns appeared amenable to change during 12 weeks of daily drink tracking with Sunnyside®, a tailored web program to reduce drinking and improve overall wellness. Overall, the findings of this naturalistic study, one of the first of its kind, supplement data from randomized clinical trials and support the use of adaptive, technology-assisted tools for alcohol moderation.

Effects of a waiting list control design on alcohol consumption among online help-seekers: A randomised controlled trial

BackgroundIndirect evidence suggests that using waiting list control designs in behavioural research may have unintended consequences. The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of a waiting list design on alcohol consumption among individuals who had looked online for help. MethodsA two-arm randomised controlled trial was employed. The intervention group was informed that they belonged to the intervention group and would receive immediate access to a digital alcohol intervention. The waiting list control group was informed that they belonged to the group that had to wait four weeks to be given access to the intervention and in the meantime, they would be given a summary of their drinking. However, both groups received immediate access to the same digital alcohol intervention; the experimental contrast was thus between being told to wait or not. ResultsWe randomised 3388 participants (intervention: 1692, waiting list: 1696). Data were available for 954 participants at 1-month follow-up. We found no strong evidence that alcohol consumption differed between groups, but the evidence pointed towards the intervention group reporting lowering weekly alcohol consumption compared to the waiting list control group (IRR = 0.95, 95 % CI = 0.83; 1.08, probability of effect = 78.8 %). ConclusionWe found no strong evidence that being informed that access to an intervention would be delayed produced differential self-reported alcohol consumption compared to being informed that access would be immediate. We did find a difference in engagement with the intervention materials, indicating that the experimental manipulation was successful.

The Frequency and Predictive Factors of Change in Alcohol Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from a Multi-Country Longitudinal Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had multiple health and behavioral effects in the general population worldwide, including effects on nutritional and lifestyle behavior such as alcohol consumption. This study aimed to determine the frequency of and predictors for change in alcohol consumption two years after onset of the COVID-19 pandemic among participants from the general population of six countries. Longitudinal study design with 4999 participants (47% male; aged 18-75 years) from a general population cohort from six countries: Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (US). Three web-based surveys at different time waves: T1 = 22 April-1 June 2020; T2 = 2 May-29 June 2021 and T3 = 29 April-25 June 2022. The surveys included questions on self-reported retrospective alcohol consumption, demographics, health, anxiety and depression symptoms and recent life events. Of 4999 respondents, most (82.3%) reported no change in drinking habits during the pandemic, whereas 12.5% reported drinking less and 5.1% drinking more. Predictive factors for increased alcohol consumption include age 35-54 years, male gender, high educational level, moderate-severe depression symptoms, excessive drinking before the COVID-19 pandemic, no change in general health status and job loss. Predictive factors for decreased alcohol consumption were age 18-34 years, male gender, having chronic disease(s), moderate-severe depression symptoms, excessive drinking before the pandemic and job loss. The proportion of participants who reported a decrease in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic was higher compared to those who reported an increase. Excessive drinking before the pandemic, depression symptoms and job loss were predictors for both drinking more and drinking less alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic with an stronger association for an increase in alcohol consumption.

Good parent-child relationship protects against alcohol use in maltreated adolescent females carrying the MAOA-uVNTR susceptibility allele.

Risk-allele carriers of a Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene, short-allele (MAOA-S) in males and long-allele (MAOA-L) in females, in the presence of a negative environment, are associated with alcohol misuse. Whether MAOA-S/L alleles also present susceptibility to a positive environment to mitigate the risk of alcohol misuse is unknown. Thus, we assessed the association of the three-way interaction of MAOA, maltreatment, and positive parent-child relationship with alcohol consumption among adolescents. This prospective study included 1416 adolescents (females: 59.88%) aged 16 - 19 years from Sweden, enrolled in the "Survey of Adolescent Life in Västmanland" in 2012. Adolescents self-reported alcohol consumption, maltreatment by a family (FM) or non-family member (NFM), parent-child relationship, and left saliva for MAOA genotyping. We observed sex-dependent results. Females carrying MAOA-L with FM or NFM and a good parent-child relationship reported lower alcohol consumption than those with an average or poor parent-child relationship. In males, the interactions were not significant. Results suggest MAOA-L in females, conventionally regarded as a "risk", is a "plasticity" allele as it is differentially susceptible to negative and positive environments. Results highlight the importance of a good parent-child relationship in mitigating the risk of alcohol misuse in maltreated individuals carrying genetic risk. However, the interactions were not significant after adjusting to several environmental and behavioural covariates, especially parent's alcohol use, negative parent-child relationship, and nicotine use (smoking and/or snus), suggesting predictor and outcome intersection. Future studies and frameworks for preventive strategies should consider these covariates together with alcohol consumption. More studies with larger sample sizes are needed to replicate the findings.

The effectiveness of a brief intervention for intensive care unit patients with hazardous alcohol use: a randomized controlled trial.

Screening for hazardous alcohol use and performing brief interventions (BIs) are recommended to reduce alcohol-related negative health consequences. We aimed to compare the effectiveness (defined as an at least 10% absolute difference) of BI with usual care in reducing alcohol intake in intensive care unit survivors with history of hazardous alcohol use. We used Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) score to assess history of alcohol use. Emergency admitted adult ICU patients in three Finnish university hospitals, with an AUDIT-C score > 5 (women), or > 6 (men). We randomized consenting eligible patients to receive a BI or treatment as usual (TAU). BI was delivered by the time of ICU discharge or shortly thereafter in the hospital ward. Control patients received TAU. The primary outcome was self-reported alcohol consumption during the preceding week 6 and 12months after randomization. Secondary outcomes were the change in AUDIT-C scores from baseline to 6 and 12months, health-related quality of life, and mortality. The trial was terminated early due to slow recruitment during the pandemic. We randomized 234 patients to receive BI (N = 117) or TAU (N = 117). At 6months, the median alcohol intake in the BI and TAU groups were 6.5g (interquartile range [IQR] 0-141) and 0g (0-72), respectively (p = 0.544). At 12months, it was 24g (0-146) and 0g (0-96) in the BI and TAU groups, respectively (p = 0.157). Median change in AUDIT-C from baseline to 6months was - 1 (- 4 to 0) and 2 (- 6 to 0), (p = 0.144) in the BI and TAU groups, and to 12months - 3 (- 5 to - 1) and - 4 (- 7 to - 1), respectively (p = 0.187). In total, 4% (n = 5) of patients in the BI group and 11% (n = 13) of patients in the TAU group were abstinent at 6months, and 10% (n = 12) and 15% (n = 17), respectively, at 12months. No between-groups difference in mortality emerged. As underpowered, our study cannot reject or confirm the hypothesis that a single BI early after critical illness is effective in reducing the amount of alcohol consumed compared to TAU. However, a considerable number in both groups reduced their alcohol consumption. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03047577).

IL-10 and IL-1β Serum Levels, Genetic Variants, and Metabolic Syndrome: Insights into Older Adults' Clinical Characteristics.

Populational aging is marked by chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). IL-10 and IL-1β are pleiotropic cytokines with multiple biological effects linked to metabolic disorders. This cross-sectional study assessed 193 participants' IL-10 and IL-1β serum levels regarding their role in developing MetS, clinical characteristics, and their IL1B rs1143627 and IL10 rs1800890 variants' genotype frequencies in a population over 60. IL-10 levels correlated weakly with HDL levels and fat mass and inversely with triglycerides, glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and estimated average blood glucose levels. IL-10 levels were also indirectly influenced by the patient's T2DM duration, lean mass amount, and bone mineral content. Participants with altered HDL, elevated serum glucose, raised HbA1c levels, or those over 80 had reduced serum IL-10 levels compared to those with normal levels or other age groups, respectively. Women also had higher serum IL-10 levels than men. Dissimilarly, IL-1β levels correlated directly only with the number of total leukocytes and segmented neutrophils, showing only significant variations with self-reported alcohol consumption. Our study also found that those with the IL10 AA genotype (lower IL-10 levels) had a significantly higher risk of developing MetS. These findings may help direct future research and more targeted therapeutic approaches in older adults.

Sex-difference in the association between social drinking, structural brain aging and cognitive function in older individuals free of cognitive impairment.

We investigated a potential sex difference in the relationship between alcohol consumption, brain age gap and cognitive function in older adults without cognitive impairment from the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. Self-reported alcohol consumption was collected using the food-frequency questionnaire. A battery of cognitive testing assessed performance in four different domains: attention, memory, language, and visuospatial. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was conducted using 3-T scanners (Signa; GE Healthcare). Brain age was estimated using the Brain-Age Regression Analysis and Computational Utility Software (BARACUS). We calculated the brain age gap as the difference between predicted brain age and chronological age. The sample consisted of 269 participants [55% men (n=148) and 45% women (n=121) with a mean age of 79.2 ± 4.6 and 79.5 ± 4.7 years respectively]. Women had significantly better performance compared to men in memory, (1.12 ± 0.87 vs 0.57 ± 0.89, P<0.0001) language (0.66 ± 0.8 vs 0.33 ± 0.72, P=0.0006) and attention (0.79 ± 0.87 vs 0.39 ± 0.83, P=0.0002) z-scores. Men scored higher in visuospatial skills (0.71 ± 0.91 vs 0.44 ± 0.90, P=0.016). Compared to participants who reported zero alcohol drinking (n=121), those who reported alcohol consumption over the year prior to study enrollment (n=148) scored significantly higher in all four cognitive domains [memory: F3,268=5.257, P=0.002, Language: F3,258=12.047, P<0.001, Attention: F3,260=22.036, P<0.001, and Visuospatial: F3,261=9.326, P<0.001] after correcting for age and years of education. In addition, we found a significant positive correlation between alcohol consumption and the brain age gap (P=0.03). Post hoc regression analysis for each sex with language z-score revealed a significant negative correlation between brain age gap and language z-scores in women only (P=0.008). Among older adults who report alcohol drinking, there is a positive association between higher average daily alcohol consumption and accelerated brain aging despite the fact that drinkers had better cognitive performance compared to zero drinkers. In women only, accelerated brain aging is associated with worse performance in language cognitive domain. Older adult women seem to be vulnerable to the negative effects of alcohol on brain structure and on certain cognitive functions.

Beer taxes associate with lower alcohol and cigarette use; cigarette taxes associate with lower cigarette but higher alcohol use

ABSTRACT Background: There is a yet unmet opportunity to utilize data on taxes and individual behaviors to yield insight for analyzing studies involving alcohol and cigarette use. Objectives: To inform the direction and strength of their mutual associations by leveraging the fact that taxation can affect individual consumption, but individual consumption cannot affect taxation. Methods: We linked state-level data on cigarette and beer taxes in 2009–2020 with individual-level data on self-reported current cigarette and alcohol use from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is representative of the population of each state in the United States. We constructed linear and logistic models to examine associations between a $1 increase in cigarette taxes per pack and a $1 increase in beer taxes per gallon and self-reported cigarette use and alcohol consumption (assessed as any current intake, average drinks/day, heavy drinking, and binge drinking), adjusting for survey year and individual characteristics. Results: Among 2,968,839,352 respondents (49% male), a $1 increase in beer taxes was associated with .003 (95% confidence interval [CI] −.013, .008) fewer drinks/day and lower odds of any drinking (odds ratio [OR] = .81 95%CI .80, .83), heavy drinking (OR = .96 95%CI .93, .99), binge drinking (OR = .82 95%CI .80, .83), and smoking (OR = .98 95%CI .96, 1.00). In contrast, a $1 increase in cigarette taxes was associated with lower odds of smoking (OR = .94 95%CI .94, .95) but .007 (95%CI .005, .010) more drinks/day, and higher odds of any drinking (OR = 1.10 95%CI 1.10, 1.11), heavy drinking (OR = 1.02 95%CI 1.01, 1.02), and binge drinking (OR = .82 95%CI .80, .83). Conclusion: Higher beer taxes were associated with lower odds of drinking and smoking, but higher cigarette taxes were associated with lower odds of smoking and higher alcohol consumption. These results suggest that alcohol intake may be a determinant of cigarette use rather than cigarette use as a determinant of alcohol intake.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and amygdala volume in a community-based sample.

Most prior studies have reported decreased amygdala volume in those with a history of alcohol use disorder. Decreased amygdala volume associated with alcohol use disorder may be related to an increased risk of addiction and relapse. However, the relationship between amygdala volume and a broad range of alcohol consumption is largely unexplored.The present cross-sectional analysis investigates the relationship between amygdala volume and self-reported alcohol consumption in participants of the Dallas Heart Study, a community-based study of Dallas County, Texas residents.Brain imaging and survey data from participants (n = 2023) were obtained, and multiple linear regressions were performed with the average amygdala volume as the dependent variable and drinking status, drinking risk, drinks per week, and binge drinking as independent variables. Drinking risk was categorized such that low-risk constituted ≤ 14 drinks per week in men and ≤ 7 drinks per week in women, while > 14 drinks per week in men and > 7 drinks per week in women constituted high-risk. Age, sex, intracranial volume, body mass index, education, and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report score were included in all models as covariates.No statistically significant (p ≤ .05) associations were observed between self-reported alcohol consumption and amygdala volume.The present study suggests non-significant relationships between self-reported alcohol consumption and amygdala volume when controlling for relevant demographic factors in a large, community-based sample.

Signal processing and machine learning with transdermal alcohol concentration to predict natural environment alcohol consumption.

Wrist-worn alcohol biosensors continuously and discreetly record transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) and may allow alcohol researchers to monitor alcohol consumption in participants' natural environments. However, the field lacks established methods for signal processing and detecting alcohol events using these devices. We developed software that streamlines analysis of raw data (TAC, temperature, and motion) from a wrist-worn alcohol biosensor (BACtrack Skyn) through a signal processing and machine learning pipeline: biologically implausible skin surface temperature readings (< 28°C) were screened for potential device removal and TAC artifacts were corrected, features that describe TAC (e.g., rise duration) were calculated and used to train models (random forest and logistic regression) that predict self-reported alcohol consumption, and model performances were measured and summarized in autogenerated reports. The software was tested using 60 Skyn data sets recorded during 30 alcohol drinking episodes and 30 nonalcohol drinking episodes. Participants (N = 36; 13 with alcohol use disorder) wore the Skyn during one alcohol drinking episode and one nonalcohol drinking episode in their natural environment. In terms of distinguishing alcohol from nonalcohol drinking, correcting artifacts in the data resulted in 10% improvement in model accuracy relative to using raw data. Random forest and logistic regression models were both accurate, correctly predicting 97% (58/60; AUC-ROCs = 0.98, 0.96) of episodes. Area under TAC curve, rise duration of TAC curve, and peak TAC were the most important features for predictive accuracy. With promising model performance, this protocol will enhance the efficiency and reliability of TAC sensors for future alcohol monitoring research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Abstract 2211: ALDH2 deficiency and alcohol intake: Opportunity for precision cancer prevention

Abstract Alcoholic beverages and the main metabolite of alcohol, acetaldehyde, are known carcinogens, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Many studies have shown that alcohol consumption is a modifiable risk factor for breast, esophageal, colorectal, and other cancers, and that individuals deficient in metabolizing acetaldehyde are at higher risk for alcohol-associated cancers. A genetic variant in aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2, G&amp;gt;A, rs671), the main enzyme responsible for breaking down acetaldehyde, results in decreased efficiency of ALDH2, or ALDH2 deficiency. This is the most common single genetic variation in humans worldwide, mostly found in some East Asian populations. While having one or both deficient alleles can lead to adverse physical effects when drinking, including facial flushing, nausea, and palpitations, studies done in Asian countries have shown that many affected individuals still consume alcohol, increasing their risk for some cancers. We sought to explore the scope and design of potential intervention in the U.S. by examining alcohol consumption behavior in individuals with and without ALDH2 deficiency within the All of Us Research Program, a current large, diverse, national U.S. cohort. Relationships between self-reported alcohol consumption and sociodemographic factors were examined among 380,845 participants. Genomic data was available for 296,254 of them. Overall, 72.7% of the cohort reported drinking alcohol in the past year, with the majority drinking moderately (≤1 drink/day for women and ≤2 drinks/day for men). Among those who drank, 42.7% reported at least one binge drinking episode (≥6 drinks on one occasion). Among our genomic cohort who identified as Asian individuals, 23.6% had at least one deficient ALDH2 allele compared to &amp;lt;4% in all other groups. 63.7% of individuals with one deficient ALDH2 allele and 25.4% with two deficient ALDH2 alleles reported drinking in the past year. 29.9% of individuals with ALDH2 deficiency reported binge drinking in the past year. Multivariate analysis showed that male sex, younger age, higher education level, higher household income, and being born in the U.S. were associated with alcohol consumption among both individuals with and without ALDH2 deficiency. Our study shows that ALDH2 deficiency is fairly common among Asian Americans and that many affected individuals still drink alcohol. With the growing population of Asian Americans in the U.S. (currently &amp;gt;7% of the total U.S. population, projected to be ~38 million individuals by 2050), our findings suggest a significant opportunity for precision cancer prevention for a substantial portion of the population. Citation Format: Danielle Forman, Manxi Yang, Ryan Chien, Hester Nguyen, Caressa Wong, Jacqueline H. Kim, Argyrios Ziogas, Hannah Lui Park. ALDH2 deficiency and alcohol intake: Opportunity for precision cancer prevention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2211.

You can't handle the truth! Comparing serum phosphatidylethanol to self-reported alcohol intake in chronic liver disease patients

BackgroundSerum phosphatidylethanol (PEth) testing has emerged as a promising biomarker for assessing recent alcohol consumption, surpassing the limitations of self-reported data. Limited clinical data exists comparing PEth levels and patients' reported alcohol intake. AimsCompare PEth testing results with self-reported alcohol intake and assesses variables associated with underreporting. MethodsSingle-center retrospective cohort of patients with a diagnosis of chronic liver disease and serum PEth. A patient's first positive PEth (>/=10 ng/mL) and self-reported alcohol consumption was used. PEth results were categorized as mild (10–20), moderate (20–200), or heavy (>200). Severity measures between self-report and PEth were assessed using Bhapkar's test and Bonferroni-adjusted McNemar's tests. Demographic data was analyzed using Chi-Square tests. Results279 patients were included. 94 (33.7%) patients had consistency with self-report, and 185 patients had inconsistencies in their report (66.3%, p < 0.001). Of 279 patients, 161 (57.7%) underreported their alcohol consumption, and 55 (19.7%) heavy PEth patients underreported alcohol consumption as light. 58% of alcohol-related and 56.4% of non-alcohol-related cirrhotic patients underreported their alcohol use. ConclusionIn our cohort, only one third of self-reported alcohol consumption was consistent with the PEth level. Notably, 57.7% underreported alcohol intake. Our study reinforces the clinical importance of PEth testing as an objective clinical measure.

Nicotine-related interpretation biases in cigarette smoking individuals.

Addictive behaviors are characterized by information processing biases, including substance-related interpretation biases. In the field of cigarette smoking, such biases have not been investigated yet. The present study thus adopted an open-ended scenario approach to measure smoking-related interpretation biases. Individuals who smoke, those who ceased smoking, and those without a smoking history (total sample N = 177) were instructed to generate spontaneous continuations for ambiguous, open-ended scenarios that described either a smoking-related or neutral context. Overall, people who smoke generated more smoking-related continuations in response to smoking-relevant situations than non-smoking individuals or people who had stopped smoking, providing evidence for a smoking-related interpretation bias. When differentiating for situation type within smoking-relevant scenarios, smoking individuals produced more smoking-related continuations for positive/social and habit/addictive situations compared to negative/affective ones. Additionally, the tendency to interpret habit/addictive situations in a smoking-related manner was positively associated with cigarette consumption and levels of nicotine dependence. Exploratory analyses indicated that other substance-related continuations were correlated with their respective behavioral counterparts (e.g., the level of self-reported alcohol or caffeine consumption). The present study is the first to demonstrate smoking-related interpretation biases in relation to current cigarette smoking. Future studies should investigate the causal role of such biases in the initiation and/or maintainance of nicotine addiction and the merit of Interpretation-Bias-Modification training to support smoking cessation.

The Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Longitudinal Growth, Nutritional Status, and Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 in Early Childhood in Leyte, the Philippines

To assess the impact and potential mechanistic pathways of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on longitudinal growth and nutritional status in early childhood. A cohort of 296 mother-infant dyads (32% with PAE vs 68% unexposed) were recruited in Leyte, the Philippines, and followed from early gestation through 24months of age. PAE was assessed using serum phosphatidylethanol (PEth) captured twice prenatally and in cord blood and supplemented with self-reported alcohol consumption. Linear mixed models were used to examine longitudinal effects of PAE on growth from birth through 2years including key potential mediating factors (placental histopathology, and infant serum leptin and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 [IGF-1]). After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that PAE was significantly associated with a delayed blunting of linear growth trajectories (height-for-age z-score, body length) and weight (weight-for-age z-score, body weight) that manifested between 4 and 6months and continued through 12-24months. PAE was also associated with a decreased rate of mid-upper-arm circumference growth from birth to 12months, and a lower mean IGF-1 levels at birth and 6months. This study demonstrates a delayed impact of PAE on growth that manifested around 6months of age, underscoring the importance of routine clinical monitoring in early childhood. Furthermore, the findings supported prior animal model findings that suggest a mechanistic role for IGF-1 in PAE-induced growth delay.

Alcohol Consumption, High-Density Lipoprotein Particles and Subspecies, and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Findings from the PREVEND Prospective Study.

The associations of HDL particle (HDL-P) and subspecies concentrations with alcohol consumption are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the interplay between alcohol consumption, HDL parameters and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. In the PREVEND study of 5151 participants (mean age, 53 years; 47.5% males), self-reported alcohol consumption and HDL-P and subspecies (small, medium, and large) by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were assessed. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs for first CVD events were estimated. In multivariable linear regression analyses, increasing alcohol consumption increased HDL-C, HDL-P, large and medium HDL, HDL size, and HDL subspecies (H3P, H4P, H6 and H7) in a dose-dependent manner. During a median follow-up of 8.3 years, 323 first CVD events were recorded. Compared with abstainers, the multivariable adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of CVD for occasional to light, moderate, and heavy alcohol consumers were 0.72 (0.55-0.94), 0.74 (0.54-1.02), and 0.65 (0.38-1.09), respectively. These associations remained consistent on additional adjustment for each HDL parameter. For CVD, only HDL-C was associated with a statistically significant decreased risk of CVD in a fully adjusted analysis (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.97 per 1 SD increment). For coronary heart disease, HDL-C, HDL-P, medium HDL, HDL size, and H4P showed inverse associations, whereas HDL-C and HDL size modestly increased stroke risk. Except for H6P, alcohol consumption did not modify the associations between HDL parameters and CVD risk. The addition of HDL-C, HDL size, or H4P to a CVD risk prediction model containing established risk factors improved risk discrimination. Increasing alcohol consumption is associated with increased HDL-C, HDL-P, large and medium HDL, HDL size, and some HDL subspecies. Associations of alcohol consumption with CVD are largely independent of HDL parameters. The associations of HDL parameters with incident CVD are generally not attenuated or modified by alcohol consumption.

Comparison of transdermal alcohol concentration and self-reported alcohol consumption in people with alcohol dependence attending community alcohol treatment services

AimWe aimed to assess the accuracy and wearability of a transdermal alcohol sensor (TAS) (BACtrack Skyn) with people currently receiving treatment at alcohol services. MethodA mixed methods observational study involving three NHS alcohol services in south London was conducted. All participants (7=male, 9=female) wore a TAS for 1 week and met with the researcher every other weekday to complete the TAS data download and a TimeLine Follow Back (TLFB). At the end of the week, a post-wear survey was completed. Transdermal Alcohol Concentration (TAC) from the TAS was compared to the TLFB. Post-wear survey responses, attendance voucher incentives and descriptive TAS data (removals, missing and skin temperature data) were analysed. We investigated different drinking event thresholds changing the criteria of TAC level and length of time TAC was increased and analysed each drinking threshold sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predicative values, and percentage accuracy classification. ResultsThe TAS recorded the number of alcohol-drinking days with a high degree of accuracy compared to the TLFB as gold-standard. However, of the participation time of the 16 participants, 14.5% of the TAS data was missing in output and 16.4% of the recorded data suggests the TAS was not currently being worn. Of the data recorded, in line with the drinking event threshold of >15 ug/l TAC, >15minutes, we found that sensitivity = 93%, specificity = 84% and a Pearson correlation of r(16) =.926, p = <.001, BCa 95% CI [.855 −.981]. The threshold with the highest accuracy was TAC>15 ug/l, >60minutes which classified alcohol events with 90% accuracy, AUC =.910, sensitivity = 90%, specificity = 96%. The post-wear survey reported that most participants found it comfortable and that wearing it did not interfere with daily activities. Six participants reported side effects, including itching and a rash, but these would not deter them from wearing it again with all six reporting they would wear the TAS again and for longer than one week. ConclusionsThe TAS did not capture every drinking event that was self-reported but maintained a high correlation. There were instances of missing TAS data and TAS removals. Overall, our findings would support the acceptability and feasibility of TAS as a tool that could be used in clinical settings for objective alcohol monitoring with patients being responsible for the TAS.

Evaluating distress as a moderator of the relationship between drinking identity and hazardous drinking during the post-college transition

Drinking identity (the extent to which one associates the self with drinking alcohol) is a robust predictor of young adult hazardous drinking (HD; heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems), and decreases in drinking identity have been linked to the decline in HD that often occurs following college graduation. Identifying moderators is key to recognizing who is most at risk for continued HD given a drinking identity vulnerability. Using data from a longitudinal study of graduating college students from the U.S., we evaluated distress (depression, anxiety, stress symptoms) as a potential moderator. Between- and within-person components of drinking identity and distress were evaluated to consider both individual differences and variations within a person across time and changing contexts. Study hypotheses and data analysis plan were preregistered. Graduating college students who met HD criteria (N = 422) completed implicit and explicit drinking identity measures (assessed using reaction time and self-report measures, respectively), distress symptom questionnaires, and self-reported alcohol consumption and problems at four-month intervals for 2.5 years. Results supported moderation at the between-person level for alcohol consumption, with higher levels of implicit drinking identity and distress linked to greater subsequent alcohol consumption. Only between-person main effects for (explicit) identity and distress were linked to more subsequent alcohol-related problems. Though moderation findings were mixed, having a stronger drinking identity and/or greater distress was linked to continued HD risk in this sample. Individuals with these risk factors may benefit from enhanced prevention efforts to help graduates transition out of HD post-college.

Risk factors for self-reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most common preventable cause of impaired fetal development. The amount of alcohol consumed by expectant mothers varies by country. Studies on the prevalence of alcohol use among pregnant women in Slovakia and the risk factors linked to alcohol consumption during pregnancy are scarce. Similarly lacking are the data regarding pregnant women's awareness of the negative consequences of alcohol use during pregnancy. The study comprised women who gave birth at the 2nd Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics between July 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023. All respondents received an anonymous retrospective questionnaire following childbirth. The questionnaire investigated alcohol consumption throughout the year preceding conception as well as during each of the trimesters. The questionnaire also included questions on the woman's plans to become pregnant, her demographics, and her awareness of the hazards associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Afilled-out questionnaire was obtained from 402 women. Of these, 51 women (12.8%) reported being completely abstinent before becoming pregnant. Complete abstinence before pregnancy was the greatest strongest protection against drinking during pregnancy (RR: 0.03). Among the 351 women who drank before pregnancy, 108 women (30.8%) continued to drink while pregnant, which constitutes 26.9% of all pregnant women. Risk factors of alcohol use during pregnancy included unplanned pregnancy (RR: 1.32), inadequate knowledge of the negative consequences of alcohol intake during pregnancy (71.9% vs 75.4%), and heavy drinking prior to pregnancy (RR: 2.55). In accordance with certain European data, the best means of protection against alcohol consumption during pregnancy include complete abstinence prior to conception, pregnancy planning, and high-quality education regarding the negative effects of alcohol during pregnancy (Tab. 4, Ref. 19). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: fetal alcohol syndrome spectrum, alcohol drinking in pregnancy, pregnancy planning, prenatal alcohol exposure, pregnancy.