Correlation between age of alcohol dependence and quality of life - A hospital based cross sectional study

Background: Alcohol use Disorders (AUDs) are related to high rates of morbidity and mortality due to associated severe and chronic medical problems such as liver disease, cardiovascular disease, endocrine diseases, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancers. Aim and objectives: To assess the quality of life among the people with alcohol dependence, who are abstinent using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, to assess the correlation between age and different aspects of quality of life among study population. Materials and methods: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute. The study population included all male patients treated for current alcohol dependence syndrome, who were treated and were abstinent from alcohol intake for at least 1 month. The data collection for the study was conducted for a period of 6 months from May 2016 – October 2016. Results: Among the study population, amount of alcohol consumption was 3 units per day in 1 (2.04%) subject. Nineteen (38.78%) were consuming 6 units per day, 16 (32.65%) were consuming 9 units per day, 11 (22.45%) were consuming 12 units per day, and 2 (4.08%) were consuming 24 units per day. The mean overall score was 6.96 ± 0.96 in the study population. Minimum level was 5 and maximum level was 8 in the study population (95% CI 6.68 to 7.23). There was a weak positive correlation between age of onset of dependence and WHOQOL-BREF physical health (R Value: 0.258, P value: 0.074). Conclusion: To conclude the findings of the study suggest poor quality of life in alcohol-dependent subjects with weak positive correlation between age of onset of the habit and physical, psychological and environmental domains of the subjects.