Alcohol use disorder, but not current alcohol use is associated with falls among people with HIV in care

Current understanding of associations between alcohol use and falls among people with HIV (PWH) is limited due to few and inconsistent studies. Given the prevalence of heavy episodic alcohol use reported among PWH, this remains an important question.

Alcohol use was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) and self-reported alcohol use treatment and/or diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (collectively AUD) among PWH at eight CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) sites from 2021 to 2024. Falls were self-reported using the components of the Falls Risk for Older People in the Community (FROP-Com) questionnaire. Cross-sectional associations between alcohol use and falls were examined using relative risk models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and geographic location.

Among 5729 PWH, mean age was 55  years; 42% reported White and 41% reported Black/African American race/ethnicity; and 81% were male. Mean AUDIT-C score was 1.9 (range: 0-12); 27% reported heavy episodic drinking; 22% had AUD; and 22% reported falling in the past year. Reporting at least one fall in the past year was not associated with any measure of current alcohol use. AUD was associated with reporting at least one fall [prevalence ratio = 1.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-1.70] and number of falls [one fall: prevalence ratio = 1.27 (95% CI: 1.08-1.50); at least two falls: prevalence ratio = 1.84 (95% CI: 1.58-2.15)].

Among PWH, 22% reported falling, which was associated with AUD, but not current alcohol use, suggesting that a mechanism other than acute intoxication could be responsible. Further longitudinal research is warranted to explore mechanisms for why AUD, but not current alcohol use, is associated with falls.