Table 4.
Patterns of Alcohol Use Post–Liver Transplantation (n = 40)a
| Characteristics | Data |
|---|---|
| Any alcohol use post-LT, n (%) | |
| Slip onlyb | 25 (62) |
| Sustained alcohol usec | 15 (38) |
| Binge drinkingd | 29 (72) |
| Frequent drinkinge | 21 (52) |
| Both binge and frequent drinking | 17 (42) |
| Method of first detection of alcohol use post-LT, n (%) | |
| Clinical interview | 25 (62) |
| Urine ethyl glucuronide or phosphatidylethanol | 11 (28) |
| Liver biopsy | 4 (10) |
| Median time to first drink post-LT, d, median (IQR) | 160 (79–346) |
| Slip onlyb | 153 (69–331) |
| Sustained alcohol usec | 201 (93–386) |
a
Forty of 141 (28%) patients surviving to home discharge had evidence of any alcohol use post liver transplantation.
b
Slips were defined as any evidence of alcohol use, followed by sobriety at last follow-up.
c
Sustained alcohol use was defined as any alcohol use, and still drinking at last follow-up.
d
Binge drinking was defined as more than 6 units of alcohol in 1 d for men or 4 units for women.
e
Frequent drinking was defined as alcohol use in 4 d or more in a week, regardless of quantity per day.