Boston Alcohol Research Collaboration on HIV/AIDS (ARCH) Cohort

Addressing Alcohol/HIV Consequences in Substance Dependence - Boston ARCH Cohort

The purpose of this study is to expand and continue a cohort of HIV-infected adults to establish the longitudinal Boston ARCH Cohort of 250 HIV-infected men and women with current substance dependence or ever injection drug use that have a spectrum of alcohol use; and to determine the effect of alcohol consumption on changes in bone health prospectively in the Cohort.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Substance-Related Disorders; HIV Infection; Alcohol Use; Bone Disease

Detailed Description

Unhealthy alcohol use (i.e. the spectrum ranging from heavy drinking that risks health consequences to dependence) is common among HIV-infected persons and is associated with worse health outcomes among people with HIV infection. However, much remains unknown about alcohol-related health effects in those affected by multiple drugs (particularly opioids), or about specific health effects such as detriment to bone. Alcohol use can disrupt bone remodeling by suppressing formation and increasing resorption; heavy alcohol use is associated with both osteopenia (low bone mineral density [BMD]) and incidence of fractures. Osteopenia is common among HIV-infected patients, and fractures are more common in these patients than among adults without HIV infection. Duration of HIV infection has been found to be associated with low BMD, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) also appears to be associated with BMD decline. While bone health is likely affected by HIV infection, ART, alcohol and other drug (e.g. opioid) use (in addition to other known risk factors), the alcohol-osteopenia association among those with HIV infection is not well-characterized. It is not known whether there is an association, the magnitude and nature of that association, and how the relationship is affected by other commonly co-occurring factors (e.g. opioid use, ART).

Accordingly, as part of the Uganda Russia Boston Alcohol Network for Alcohol Research Collaboration on HIV/AIDS (URBAN ARCH) Consortium, we seek to expand and continue a cohort of HIV-infected adults to establish the Boston ARCH Cohort of 250 HIV-infected adults affected by multiple substances and that have a spectrum of alcohol use. This observational prospective cohort study will involve in-person assessments that will take place at 6-month intervals; participants will be followed for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 3.5 years. All assessments will include a researcher-administered questionnaire and breath alcohol test. In addition, the baseline assessment and each annual assessment (12, 24 or 36 months after enrollment) will also include: a urine pregnancy test (females only), blood collection, measurement of bone mineral density of the hip and spine (using Hologic QDR 4500W enhanced-array, whole-body, dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry [Bone Densitometer]), and measurement of bone microarchitecture of the wrist and ankle (using Xtreme CT [a device that measures high-resolution three-dimensional peripheral quantitative computed tomography]). We will conduct laboratory tests on blood samples collected at these time points, including tests for 25(OH) vitamin D3 and phosphatidylethanol (PEth). Remaining plasma and serum samples will be stored for future study of bone markers such as: parathyroid hormone, testosterone, carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) (a marker of osteoclast activity), and osteocalcin (osteoblast activity).

In summation, this study will measure the effect of alcohol consumption on changes in bone health prospectively in HIV-infected adults with current substance dependence or ever injection drug use. To our knowledge, no other prospective HIV/bone study has studied these relevant factors simultaneously or used HR-pQCT to assess bone microarchitecture. Data on alcohol risks to bone health is important information for defining risky drinking amounts for people with HIV infection (and for advising such patients accordingly).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 250

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02118
      • Boston Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects from an existing cohort of HIV-infected adults (Facilitated Access to Substance Abuse Treatment With Prevention and Treatment of HIV [FAST PATH]) who have indicated interest in future studies and patients from HIV clinical care sites will be recruited.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Documented HIV antibody by ELISA confirmed by Western Blot or current HIV viral load greater than 10,000 (in any medical record); or HIV antibody by 4th generation ELISA confirmed by a "Multi-Spot" rapid test for discrimination of HIV-1 from HIV-2 infection and, if necessary in the case of discordant results, nucleic acid testing (NAT) for HIV-1; or any other confirmatory pathway approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or Boston Medical Center, Center for Infectious Diseases.
2. Current (12-month) substance dependence, determined by using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) or ever injection drug use (IDU)
3. Ability to speak English (fluency)
4. At least one contact person who is likely to know whereabouts (to assist with follow-up)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Under age 18
2. Pregnancy (confirmed by urine test)
3. Plans to leave Boston area in <1 year
4. Inability to consent or understand interview (determined by trained research assistant)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Annual mean percent change in hip (femoral neck) bone mineral density (g/cm2)	Bone mineral density will be measured using Hologic QDR 4500W enhanced-array, whole-body, dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry scanner and software, version 13.4.2 (Bone Densitometer)	Between study entry and final visit (minimum of 12 months)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Annual mean percent change in spine (trabecular bone) bone mineral density (g/cm2)	Bone mineral density will be measured using Hologic QDR 4500W enhanced-array, whole-body, dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry scanner and software, version 13.4.2 (Bone Densitometer) Safety Issue?: No	Between study entry and final visit (minimum of 12 months)
Proportion with bone mineral density decrease of >6%	Bone mineral density will be measured using Hologic QDR 4500W enhanced-array, whole-body, dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry scanner and software, version 13.4.2 (Bone Densitometer)	Between study entry and final visit (minimum of 12 months)
Proportion with osteopenia (bone mineral density t score -1 to -2.5 SDs compared to a young adult reference population mean)	Bone mineral density will be measured using Hologic QDR 4500W enhanced-array, whole-body, dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry scanner and software, version 13.4.2 (Bone Densitometer)	Between study entry and final visit (minimum of 12 months)
Proportion of osteoporosis (bone mineral density t score <-2.5 SDs compared to a young adult reference population mean)	Bone mineral density will be measured using Hologic QDR 4500W enhanced-array, whole-body, dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry scanner and software, version 13.4.2 (Bone Densitometer)	Between study entry and final visit (minimum of 12 months)
Fractures (vertebral, hip, wrist)	Self-report of ever fracture at each site (vertebral, hip, wrist) and fracture in past 12-months collected at baseline and each annual time point.	12 months prior to study entry through final visit
Annual mean percent change in bone mineral density (g/cm2) at site with lowest bone mineral density (spine [trabecular bone] or hip [femoral neck])	Bone mineral density will be measured using Hologic QDR 4500W enhanced-array, whole-body, dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry scanner and software, version 13.4.2 (Bone Densitometer)	Between study entry and final visit (minimum of 12 months)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Bone mineral density, bone mineral content, trabecular thickness, separation and number, volume fraction and cortical thickness	Exploratory outcomes will be assessed using HR-pQCT (wrist and ankle)	Between study entry and final visit (minimum of 12 months)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Boston Medical Center
• Collaborators: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, Boston Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 30, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): December 4, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 12, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 8, 2016
• Last Verified: September 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: HIV; Alcohol Use; Bone Mineral Density; Substance Dependence; Bone Disease; Bone Microarchitecture
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Drinking Behavior; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Substance-Related Disorders; Alcohol Drinking; Bone Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: U01AA020784 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)