Combining Audit Questionnaire and Biochemical Markers to Assess Risk of Alcohol Withdrawal in Alcohol use Disorder: A Prospective Study

Background: For alcohol use disorders (AUDs) to be effectively managed and consequences to be avoided, early detection is crucial. A popular screening tool is the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and biochemical markers may improve the precision of diagnosis. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of AUDIT alone and in combination with biochemical markers in screening patients with alcohol dependence. Method: 155 patients with alcohol use disorders who were seen at the NSCB Medical College and Hospital's Department of Psychiatry in Jabalpur were included in this prospective study. The AUDIT, CIWA scale, and biochemical markers (AST, ALT, and MCV) were used to evaluate the participants. Analysis was done on accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV. Results: High sensitivity (93.6%) and specificity (86.7%) were demonstrated with a AUDIT cutoff of 8. Increasing the limit to 15 decreased sensitivity while increasing specificity and PPV. Sensitivity and NPV were increased by combining AUDIT with biochemical indicators; the maximum sensitivity (98.0%) was obtained when AST and MCV were added. Conclusion: AUDIT is an effective screening tool for AUDs, and its accuracy is enhanced when combined with biochemical markers. This combined approach supports early diagnosis and better clinical management.