Heavy alcohol consumption (daily or 3-4 times per/week) reported in 139 (63.2%) patients. Men (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.13–5.99, ) and participants between 35 and 45 years of age more likely to be heavy alcohol users ()
Heavy alcohol consumption associated with 4 times lower chance of achieving undetectable viral load and 2 times higher chance of having a CD4+ cell count of <500 cells/μL, compared to moderate alcohol consumption or abstinence
126 (54.5%) participants consumed alcohol There were 53 (22.9%) frequent alcohol users (≥2 alcoholic drinks daily). No differences in alcohol consumption between patients on ART and patients not on ART
Frequent alcohol use (≥2 drinks/day) associated with CD4+ cell counts ≤200 cells/μL (OR 2.907, 95% CI 1.233–6.855, ). Frequent alcohol intake associated with higher viral load over time ()
Individuals were categorized as nondrinkers (no alcohol consumption), hazardous drinkers (consume ≥5 standard drinks on drinking days), and nonhazardous drinkers (consume <5 standard drinks on drinking days)
Nonhazardous alcohol consumption decreased survival by >1 year if frequency of consumption was ≥1/week, and by 3.3 years with daily consumption (from 21.7 years to 18.4 years). Hazardous alcohol consumption decreased overall survival by >3 years if frequency of consumption was ≥1/week, and by 6.4 years with daily consumption (from 16.1 years to 9.7 years)