Interventions Targeting HIV-Infected Risky Drinkers
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
33.3_9.1.10.qxd:32(1).qxp 9/8/10 11:44 AM Page 267 Interventions Targeting HIVInfected Risky Drinkers Drops in the Bottle Jeffrey H. Samet, M.D., M.A., M.P.H., and Alexander Y. Walley, M.D., M.Sc. Alcohol use is common among people infected with HIV and may contribute to adverse consequences such as reduced adherence to treatment regimens and increased likelihood of risky sexual behaviors. Therefore, researchers and clinicians are looking for treatment approaches to reduce harmful alcohol consumption in this population. However, clinical trials of existing treatment models are scarce. A literature review identified only 11 studies that included HIVinfected patients with past or current risky alcohol use and which targeted alcohol use and other health behaviors. Four studies focusing on HIVinfected participants with alcohol problems found mixed effects on adherence and on alcohol use. Five clinical trials included at least 10 percent of HIVinfected subjects who use alcohol; of these, only one reported significant evidence of a favorable impact on alcohol consumption. Finally, two trials targeting alcohol users at high risk for HIV infection identified treatment effects that were not sustained. Taken together, these findings provide limited evidence of the benefit of behavioral interventions in this population. Nevertheless, these studies give some guidance for future interventions in HIVinfected patients with alcohol problems. KEY WORDS: Alcohol and other drug use; alcohol consumption; alcohol use disorder; human immunodeficiency virus; HIVinfected patients; sexually transmitted disease; unsafe sex; treatment method; treatment outcome; intervention; clinical trial; literature review n the United States, people infected • Lack of a health care provider for the 1 According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and HIV infection (Metsch et al. 2009); Alcoholism (2007), women who drink more than 3 drinks per with the human immunodeficiency day or more than 7 drinks per week and men who drink more virus (HIV) drink more alcohol than 4 drinks per day or more than 14 drinks per week are at increased risk for alcoholrelated problems. Alcohol consumption I • Delayed linkage to HIV medical levels above these limits are considered risky drinking. than people in the general population. Specifically, a higher proportion drink care (Samet et al. 1998); risky amounts1 or have an alcohol use • Increase in risky sexual behaviors JEFFREY H. SAMET, M.D., M.A., disorder (i.e., abuse or dependence) (Kalichman et al. 2002; Metsch M.P.H., is a professor in the Clinical (Conigliaro et al. 2003; Galvan et al. et al. 2009); Addiction Research and Education 2002; Lefevre et al. 1995; Samet et (CARE) Unit, Section of General • Increased transmission of sexually Internal Medicine, Department of al. 2003a,b, 2004). Risky alcohol transmitted infections (Kalichman Medicine, Boston University School of use in HIVinfected people has been et al. 2000); and Medicine, and in the Department of associated with the following range Social and Behavioral Sciences, Boston of adverse effects: • Progression of HIV disease University School of Public Health, (Conigliaro et al. 2003; Miguez both in Boston, Massachusetts. • Reduced adherence to medication et al. 2003; Samet et al. 2007). LEXANDER Y. WALLEY, M.D., M.SC., regimens for treatment of HIV A Given the spectrum of problems is an assistant professor in the CARE infection (Chander et al. 2006; associated with such alcohol use among Unit, Section of General Internal Conen et al. 2009; Cook et al. HIVinfected patients, one important Medicine, Department of Medicine, 2001; Golin et al. 2002; Halkitis avenue to improving the health of this Boston University School of Medicine, et al. 2003; Samet et al. 2004); population is to develop interventions Boston, Massachusetts. Vol. 33, No. 3, 2010 267 33.3_9.1.10.qxd:32(1).qxp 9/8/10 11:44 AM Page 268 that target alcohol use and its associated (e.g., cognitive–behavioral coping • HIV risk behaviors; consequences. Accordingly, interventions skills, motivational enhancement, have been designed to both decrease 12step facilitation) can be effective • Acquisition of sexually transmitted alcohol consumption and address the (Project MATCH Research Group infections; and specific adverse health consequences. 1997). In addition, several medica The concept that negative conse tions (i.e., disulfiram, naltrexone, and • Alcohol use. quences of alcohol use can be reduced acamprosate) are approved for the in patients with HIV infection is treatment of alcohol dependence, and To be included in the review, the based on research demonstrating the other medications (e.g., topiramate) studies had to report alcoholspecific impact of clinical interventions on are being further evaluated (Anton et outcomes. Beyond that, the studies alcohol consumption and associated al. 2006; Garbutt et al. 2005; Kranzler were classified into three categories of negative consequences in patients and Van Kirk 2001; Olmsted and specificity. The most specific category without HIV infection (Institute of Kockler 2008; Rubio et al. 2001). comprised clinical trials that included Medicine 1990; Kristenson et al. 1983). Given the strong evidence that only HIVinfected people with past Alcohol research over the past three alcohol consumption is an important or current unhealthy alcohol use. The decades has demonstrated that behav health issue for many people with second category comprised clinical ioral interventions can be effective, HIV infection, efforts to potentially trials that included only HIVinfected with benefits varying based on setting, ameliorate these problems by addressing people but in which not all of the severity of alcohol problems, and alcohol use are of great interest. The participants exhibited unhealthy alcohol patient characteristics. For example, studies in non–HIVinfected people use. For a study to be included in this metaanalyses of randomized controlled reviewed above suggest that interven category, at least 10 percent of partic trials (RCTs)2 of interventions to tions among HIVinfected people with ipants had to report current alcohol reduce risky alcohol use demonstrated alcohol problems could be beneficial. use. The third category of studies decreased drinking for patients in pri However, the wide range of results comprised trials that were aimed at mary care settings (Beich et al. 2003; in these intervention studies based on preventing alcohol use and sexual Kaner et al. 2007). However, no such setting and disease severity argues for behaviors that put people at risk of effects were found in metaanalyses of the need to carefully assess efforts to HIV infection among alcoholusing interventions delivered in hospital mitigate alcohol’s deleterious impact on people. Although these studies did settings (Emmen et al. 2004), possi health in HIVinfected patients. As not include HIVinfected participants bly because inpatients typically have an important step in this direction, this or did not report the HIV status of greater severity of alcohol problems article summarizes the findings of a the participants, they were reviewed because they may inform future research (i.e., most are alcohol dependent) (Saitz review of the clinical trial literature on on people at risk of HIV transmission et al. 2007, 2008). Several highquality interventions addressing alcohol con in the setting of alcohol use. RCTs of brief interventions delivered sumption and its consequences among Initially, the review intended to in emergency departments also detected HIVinfected patients. After describing include only RCTs. However, very no or limited benefit (D’Onofrio and the design of the literature search and few studies were identified that met Degutis 2002; Daeppen et al. 2007; evaluation, the article reviews the findings Longabaugh et al. 2001; Monti et al. this criterion in the first two categories. of the studies identified and discusses Therefore, the search was expanded 1999). The influence of the patient’s the implications of those findings. consumption levels also was demon to include nonrandomized and non strated in several studies. For example, controlled clinical intervention trials in two separate RCTs in the primary Design of the Literature in categories 1 and 2. care setting (Fleming et al. 1997; Review To identify relevant studies, the Ockene et al. 1999), where patients literature database MEDLINE was were seeking medical care but not The literature review sought to identify searched through September 30, necessarily for an alcohol problem, clinical trials of interventions among 2009, using the search terms “HIV, implementation of a 5 to 15minute HIVinfected people with past or current alcohol, hazardous drinking, risky discussion reduced alcohol consump unhealthy alcohol use (i.e., the spectrum drinking, problem drinking, counseling, tion in patients who met the criteria from risky drinking to alcohol dependence brief intervention, 12 step, pharma for risky drinking. Studies of such [Saitz 2005]) that reported effects on cotherapy, naltrexone, acamprosate, brief interventions among patients who any of the following outcomes: disulfiram, topiramate, and clinical met the criteria for alcohol dependence, trial.” For all articles identified using however, have shown no benefit • HIV disease progression; this approach, the reference lists also (Kaner et al. 2007; Whitlock et al. 2004; Wutzke et al. 2002). • Receipt of HIV treatment; 2 RCTs are clinical studies in which