Positive Life NSW

A study finds heavy drinkers not on treatments and living with HIV have lower CD4 counts.

HIV positive people not taking antiretroviral treatment who are heavy drinkers have lower CD4 counts than moderate drinkers or those who never drink. However the same difference isn’t true for those people who take antiretrovirals, and alcohol consumption doesn’t seem to affect viral load. This comes from a recent report in a US publication, the Journal of Acquired Immune deficiency Syndromes.

This difference may place some drinkers at an earlier risk of developing opportunistic infections. The findings of the study imply that someone who drinks heavily would be quicker to reach a point at which treatment is recommended that someone who is teetotal.

The study looked at the CD4 counts and viral loads of 595 people with HIV in Boston between 1997 and 2006. 59% of the research participants were abstainers from alcohol. 30% were classified as heavy drinkers. Heavy drinkers averaged seven drinks per day. It seems that the sample included a small number of very heavy drinkers, and a large number who regularly drank at least two drinks per day, or who binge-drank on several occasions each week.
Once recruited to the study, participants had CD4 counts and viral loads tested every six months, together with an assessment of recent alcohol consumption. Participants were followed for a median of approximately four and a half years.

The study found that after controlling for age, race, HIV risk behaviour, homelessness, depression, adherence and duration in the study, heavy drinkers not taking antiretroviral therapy had CD4 counts that were on average, 48.6 cells/mm3 lower than those of untreated HIV positive people who did not drink. Moderate drinkers did not show any significant difference from abstinent people. Viral load was not significantly affected by alcohol consumption.

In people taking antiretroviral treatment there was no significant difference in CD4 cell count according to alcohol consumption.

In summary the findings of the study imply that HIV + people, not on treatments, whose alcohol consumption stays high, can find this moderately affects disease progression.

Tips for drinking less:

• Only take a certain amount of money with you and leave your wallet at home.
• Avoid salty foods like nuts which might make you thirsty and drink more.
• Make every second drink non alcoholic.
• Order a midi of beer instead of a schooner.
• Avoid shouting rounds of drinks when you’re out with friends.