Biochemical measures in the diagnosis of alcohol dependence using discriminant analysis.

BACKGROUND

Alcohol dependence often cannot be diagnosed based on self-report alone. Various biochemical and haematological parameters have been used to screen alcohol use disorders.

AIM

To develop discriminant equations based on lipid and liver measures independently for identifying alcohol dependent and non-dependent subjects.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Case control study in a tertiary care hospital.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

One hundred subjects fulfilling the criteria of alcohol dependence and seventy healthy controls were included. The socio-demographic details, caloric intake, height, weight and blood pressure were recorded. Samples were analysed for various lipid measures as well as liver function.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Diagnostic values such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PV+), negative predictive value (PV-) and discriminant analysis.

RESULTS

Using discriminant analysis, two equations were constructed based on liver and lipid measures independently. 84.7% of the subjects on the basis of total cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and low density lipoprotein/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL/HDL-c and 89.1% on the basis of aspartate amino transferase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were correctly classified into their respective groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the ability of TC, ApoB and LDL/HDL-c (among lipid measures) and AST and GGT (among liver measures) in discriminating alcohol dependents from non-dependent subjects.