Systematic Referral to Alcohol Use Dependency Treatment in Patients With Alcohol-related Liver Disease: a RCT

Launched by ZEALAND UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · Jul 9, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at whether referring patients with newly diagnosed alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) to specialized treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) can help them stop drinking alcohol over a six-month period. Participants will be divided into two groups: one group will receive the specialized treatment, while the other will receive standard care, which does not include this referral. The main goal is to see how many people in each group are able to stay sober for the last 30 days of the study.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be at least 18 years old, have been diagnosed with alcohol-related liver disease within the last six months, and have a history of heavy drinking (more than 7 drinks per week for women or more than 14 drinks per week for men). Participants should also be able to understand the study and give their consent to join. They will need to attend appointments and complete interviews and questionnaires during the study. It’s important to note that pregnant women and those who do not speak Danish well enough to participate cannot join the trial. This study aims to help those affected by alcohol-related liver disease by improving their access to treatment and support.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion criteria
• • Age \> 18 years
• • Newly diagnosed alcohol-related liver disease, defined as within six months from baseline visit.
• • A liver stiffness above 8.0 kPa with 10 successful measurements and an interquartile range of less than 30% as assessed with transient elastography.
• • Excessive alcohol consumption defined as \>7 units/week for women and \>14 units/week for men within the previous year.
• • The patient is able to understand the purpose of the study and give informed oral and written consent to participate.
• • No ongoing or recent AUD treatment defined as within 12 months. Only AUD treatment provided by a specialised AUD treatment centre counts as AUD treatment.
• • Exclusion criteria
• • Not enough proficiency in Danish to participate in interviews and questionnaires.
• • Pregnancy