Alcohol consumption and the risk of tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Simou, Evangelia; Britton, John; Leonardi-Bee, Jo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between alcohol consumption and tuberculosis risk.
METHODS: Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched for observational studies from 2005 to April 2018. Reference lists of included studies were screened.
RESULTS: Forty nine studies were included. Compared to people with low or no alcohol intake, the risk of tuberculosis in people with high or any alcohol consumption was increased by a relative odds of 1.90 (95% CI: 1.-2.23). Substantial levels of heterogeneity were seen (I2=82%), but there was no evidence of publication bias (P=0.). Sensitivity analysis restricted to studies using no alcohol drinking as a reference group found a slightly lower but still increased risk (Odds Ratio= 1.59, 95%CI: 1.38-1.84). Subgroup analyses found no significant differences in relation to study design and quality, geographic location, publication year, and adjustment for confounders. A pooled analysis of a further four studies reporting hazard ratios, found nearly a tripling increase in risk of TB in relation to alcohol consumption during follow-up (HR=2.81, 95%CI: 2.12-3.74). An exposure-response analysis showed that for every 10-20 grams daily alcohol intake, there was 12% increase in TB risk.
CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption is an important risk factor for the development of TB.

Citation

Simou, E., Britton, J., & Leonardi-Bee, J. (2018). Alcohol consumption and the risk of tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 22(11), 1277-1285. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.18.0092

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 5, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 7, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 2, 2019
• Journal: International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
• Print ISSN: 1027-3719
• Electronic ISSN: 1815-7920
• Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 1277-1285
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.18.0092
• Keywords: alcohol; tuberculosis; meta-analysis
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/936373
• Publisher URL: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2018/00000022/00000011/art00007;jsessionid=8fque059khf02.x-ic-live-01
• Contract Date: Aug 30, 2018