A Brief Intervention on Alcohol Use Disorder Is Associated With Treatment Access for Inpatients With Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is the most common indication for liver transplantation in the United States. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment is recommended in all patients with ALD and AUD, but it remains underutilized. Aims To identify predictors of AUD treatment and to assess 30-day readmission, return to drinking, and 1-year transplant-free survival. Methods Retrospective single-center cohort study of consecutive patients hospitalized with ALD and AUD between 2018 and 2020. Patients who died or were lost to follow-up at 90 days after hospitalization were excluded. AUD treatment was defined as receiving medication or participating in residential, outpatient, or support groups within 90 days of discharge. Results One hundred nine patients were included. Mean age was 51.7 years, and 63% were male. Fifty-six (51%) patients received AUD treatment, and 23 (21%) patients received more than one treatment. Predictors of AUD treatment were younger age (OR, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.04–1.12]; P < 0.001), gastroenterology/hepatology consult (AOR, 8.54 [95% CI, 2.55–39.50]; P = 0.0002), addiction psychiatry consult (AOR, 2.77 [95% CI, 1.16–6.84]; P = 0.02), and a brief AUD intervention (AOR, 18.19 [95% CI, 3.36–339.07]; P = 0.0001). Cirrhosis decompensation, MELD-Na score, and insurance status were not associated with treatment. Thirty-one patients (28.4%) were readmitted, and 29 (26.6%) remained abstinent 30 days from discharge. Patients who received treatment had improved transplant-free survival (HR, 0.44, P = 0.04). Conclusion A brief intervention on AUD had the strongest association with receiving AUD treatment in our cohort. Further efforts to incorporate brief interventions when offering AUD treatment to patients with ALD may be beneficial.