Reducing Alcohol Use Among Patients with Hepatitis C

BACKGROUND: Heavy alcohol users with chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, particularly those co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, have not received adequate clinical attention. High levels of alcohol use can be very dangerous with chronic HCV and HIV/HCV co-infection, potentially leading to severe liver damage and death. OBJECTIVES: This review aims to summarize the literature on alcohol interventions developed for (and tested in) chronic HCV and HIV/HCV populations, to expand on a prior review by Sims et al. (2016). A research team (consisting of a PhD-level investigator and a team of undergraduate students at Molloy University) identified studies evaluating drinking interventions among individuals with chronic HCV and HIV/HCV co-infection. RESULTS: Included studies consisted of four studies testing interventions to decrease alcohol use among individuals with chronic HCV, and three focused specifically on HIV/HCV co-infected individuals. Overall, participants demonstrated notable responses to interventions, specifically in terms of increased rates of abstinence, less alcohol consumed, fewer heavy alcohol drinking days, fewer alcoholic drinks per week, as well as increased engagement in alcohol treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This review demonstrates the promise of psychosocial interventions to reduce drinking in populations with chronic HCV and HIV/HCV, a behavioral change that has important implications for their overall health.