Cited by 458Tuberculosis Research and EpidemiologyAlcohol Consumption and Health EffectsSubstance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

The association between alcohol use, alcohol use disorders and tuberculosis (TB). A systematic review

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Rehm, Jürgen, Samokhvalov, Andriy V, Neuman, Manuela G, Room, Robin, Parry, Charles, Lönnroth, Knut, Patra, Jayadeep, Poznyak, Vladimir +1 more·2009·BMC Public Health

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In 2004, tuberculosis (TB) was responsible for 2.5% of global mortality (among men 3.1%; among women 1.8%) and 2.2% of global burden of disease (men 2.7%; women 1.7%). The present work portrays accumulated evidence on the association between alcohol consumption and TB with the aim to clarify the nature of the relationship. METHODS: A systematic review of existing scientific data on the association between alcohol consumption and TB, and on studies relevant for clarification of causality was undertaken. RESULTS: There is a strong association between heavy alcohol use/alcohol use disorders (AUD) and TB. A meta-analysis on the risk of TB for these factors yielded a pooled relative risk of 2.94 (95% CI: 1.89-4.59). Numerous studies show pathogenic impact of alcohol on the immune system causing susceptibility to TB among heavy drinkers. In addition, there are potential social pathways linking AUD and TB. Heavy alcohol use strongly influences both the incidence and the outcome of the disease and was found to be linked to altered pharmacokinetics of medicines used in treatment of TB, social marginalization and drift, higher rate of re-infection, higher rate of treatment defaults and development of drug-resistant forms of TB. Based on the available data, about 10% of the TB cases globally were estimated to be attributable to alcohol. CONCLUSION: The epidemiological and other evidence presented indicates that heavy alcohol use/AUD constitute a risk factor for incidence and re-infection of TB. Consequences for prevention and clinical interventions are discussed.

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Rothman KJ Greenland S Lash TL Modern epidemiology 1965 3 PA, USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
  2. Baddeley A A systematic literature review to assess the impact of alcoholism on tuberculosis control and strategies to encourage compliance amongst alcoholic TB patients 2008 (Academic thesis submitted for MSc degree). London: University of London
  3. Yanova GV Alcoholism among patients with tuberculosis and their medical rehabilitation in Western Siberia. (Article in Russian) The Abstract of the PhD Dissertation 1994

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Authors
Rehm, J., Samokhvalov, A. V., Neuman, M. G., Room, R., Parry, C., Lönnroth, K., Patra, J., Poznyak, V., & Popova, S.
Affiliations
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
  • World Health Organization (CH)
Corresponding author
Rehm, Jürgen
Venue
BMC Public Health
Published
2009-12
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
450-450
ISSN
1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2126451218
Cited by
458
References
168
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 25
FWCI
2.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • TSpace (University of Toronto) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • World Health Organization
  • U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1u51ps000729-01)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Keywords
alcohol consumption, alcoholism, tuberculosis, heavy drinking, tuberculosis risk factors, tuberculosis treatment outcomes, drug-resistant tuberculosis, social determinants of health, tuberculosis prevention
MeSH terms
Alcohol Drinking, Female, Humans, Male, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Risk Factors, Russia, Tuberculosis, Ukraine, Prevalence, Alcohol-Related Disorders

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