BACKGROUND

Data on alcohol abuse as a risk factor for the development of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the patterns of alcohol use in MDR-TB patients and to determine whether alcohol use is associated with the development of MDR-TB in Botswana.

METHODS

We compared the level of alcohol use among MDR-TB patients against three control groups: 1) non-MDR-TB patients, 2) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients without a history of TB, and 3) the general population. Alcohol use and abuse was measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test 10 (AUDIT) questionnaire.

RESULTS

Of a total national population of 164 MDR-TB cases, 114 (70%) were interviewed. MDR-TB cases had a lifetime prevalence of alcohol use of 35.1%, which was lower than that of all control groups (P < 0.001). MDR-TB cases had higher 1-month prevalence of alcohol dependence symptoms and a lower 1-year period prevalence of alcohol dependence symptoms (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01 respectively). Among patients with TB, alcohol abuse was found to be a risk factor for the development of MDR-TB.

CONCLUSION

MDR-TB patients in Botswana have high rates of alcohol use and abuse. Among TB patients, alcohol abuse is associated with the diagnosis of MDR-TB, and could be an important modifiable factor.