Biochemical measures in the diagnosis of alcohol dependence using discriminant analysis

Background: Alcohol dependence often cannot be diagnosed based on self-report alone. Various biochemical and haematological parameters have been used to screen alcohol use disorders.
Aim: To develop discriminant equations based on lipid and liver measures independently for identifying alcohol dependent and non-dependent subjects.
Settings and Design: Case control study in a tertiary care hospital.
Methods and Material: One hundred subjects fulfilling the criteria of alcohol dependence and seventy healthy controls were included. The socio-demographic details, caloric intake, height, weight and blood pressure were recorded. Samples were analysed for various lipid measures as well as liver function.
Statistical analysis used: Diagnostic values such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PV+), negative predictive value (PV-) and discriminant analysis.
Results: Using discriminant analysis, two equations were constructed based on liver and lipid measures independently. 84.7% of the subjects on the basis of total cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and low density lipoprotein /high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL/HDL-c and 89.1% on the basis of aspartate amino transferase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were correctly classified into their respective groups.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the ability of TC, ApoB and LDL/HDL-c (among lipid measures) and AST and GGT (among liver measures) in discriminating alcohol dependents from non-dependent subjects.