A Growing Epidemic of Alcohol Problems

previous(prenominal) studies have shown that the combination of biologic markers and hencoop questionnaires is an efficient tool in determining intoxicantic beverage abuse.Among the laboratory tests utilise to determine biological markers of intoxicant abuse, it has been found that the most sensitive marker is the train of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) (Viitala, 1998 Yersin et al., 1995). CDT is a protein which is found out to be a sensitive marker of infirmity of the liver ca employ by excessive alcohol recess.Among the commonly used biological markers ar detection of the level of ethanol and acetate, mean corpuscular pile (MCV), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1c) (Hoeksema & Bock, 1993). The CAGE questionnaire was made by Dr. John Ewing to differentiate alcoholics. It is consist of four questions scored as 0 or 1 and insobriety is considered to be substantial if the individual in question scores both or greater.In a certai n study conducted to compare the sensitivity and specifity of CAGE questionnaire, plasma levels of ethanol and acetate, mean corpuscular volume, gamma glutamyl transferase and glycosylated hemoglobin, it was found that the it is through the use of CAGE questionnaire that the alcoholic patients are most accurately identify against nonalcoholic and patients with non-alcoholic hepatic indisposition with 90%sensititvity and 99% specificity (Girela, Villanueva, Hernandez-Cueto, & Luna, 1994).Socio-demographic factors are overly commonly included in studies conducted to ascertain alcoholic problems for it has been shown in whatsoever studies that it is related to alcoholic abuse.Age, sex, educational attainment and economic status are among the factors commonly observed. In a study conducted by Bataille (2003) to identify loaded down(p) drinkers in a large population, he included the use of socio-demographic factors as one way of identification.Results of his study show that thither is no significant difference in age, sex, arterial hypertension notwithstanding educational level and smoking habits proves to have significant differences in the population observed. Those with lower educational background and frequent smoking habits relates to greater alcohol consumption (Bataille et al., 2003).Although there have been lots of studies that used biological markers, CAGE questionnaires and evaluation of socio-demographic factors further there is a lack of substantial findings that elucidate the interrelationships of these indicators in identifying alcohol problems. Thus, there is need to conduct a study regarding this matterIII. Conceptual FrameworkA. titulary Definition/Meaning of ConceptsAccording to Viitala (1998) alcohol abuse refers to heavy drinking that results into health consequences, social problem or both and patients of this kind suffer from mental or physical complications brought on by alcohol even though the criteria for alcohol addiction may n ot have been fulfilled while alcoholism is the most severe problem related to alcohol consumption and it is a disease where severe dependence and increased tolerance has been developed.According to Peterson (2004), a biological marker or biomarker is a compound or serial of compounds that can be used to measure the progress of a disease or the effects of treatment. Among the currently used biomarkers for detecting alcohol intake are serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) which are tout ensemble liver enzymes.N-acetyl--hexosaminidase (beta-Hex) which indicates break down of carbohydrates in liver cells and other cells of the form is also used as a biomarker.Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) which is a measure of red blood cell volume is also used as a biomarker (Peterson, 2004). In this study the biomarker that will be used is CDT. CDT is a form of glycoprotein transferrin wh ich carries iron in the bloodstream but without carbohydrate sialic acid. Normally different forms of transferrin are available in the body but the one that is most abundant among heavy drinkers of alcohol is CDT.