Paul Shuper

Publications (2)6.03 Total impact

• Article: Alcohol consumption and risk of incident human immunodeficiency virus infection: a meta-analysis.

  Dolly Baliunas, Jürgen Rehm, Hyacinth Irving, Paul Shuper
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  ABSTRACT: To analyze the relationship between alcohol consumption and incident HIV infection. Articles were identified via electronic and hand searches. Inclusion criteria were: incident HIV infection, preceding alcohol consumption, and association relating the two. The DerSimonian and Laird random effects model was used. For studies with more than one estimate of a given type, estimates were combined using the inverse variance weighted method. Publication bias was assessed using Begg's and Egger's tests. Heterogeneity was assessed using Q and I (2) statistics. Ten studies were included. Overall alcohol consumption (any of the three types identified) increased the risk of HIV (RR 1.98, 95% CI 1.59-2.47). Alcohol consumers were at 77% higher risk (RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.43-2.19). Those consuming alcohol prior to, or at the time of, sexual relations were at an 87% increased risk (RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.39-2.50). For binge drinkers, the risk was double that of non-binge drinkers (RR 2.20, 95% CI 1.29-3.74). Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of incident HIV infection. Additional research is required to further investigate a possible causal role.
  International Journal of Public Health 12/2009; 55(3):159-66. · 2.54 Impact Factor
• Article: Alcohol as a correlate of unprotected sexual behavior among people living with HIV/AIDS: review and meta-analysis.

  Paul A Shuper, Narges Joharchi, Hyacinth Irving, Jürgen Rehm
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  ABSTRACT: The present investigation attempted to quantify the relationship between alcohol consumption and unprotected sexual behavior among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). A comprehensive search of the literature was performed to identify key studies on alcohol and sexual risk behavior among PLWHA, and three separate meta-analyses were conducted to examine associations between unprotected sex and (1) any alcohol consumption, (2) problematic drinking, and (3) alcohol use in sexual contexts. Based on 27 relevant studies, meta-analyses demonstrated that any alcohol consumption (OR = 1.63, CI = 1.39-1.91), problematic drinking (OR = 1.69, CI = 1.45-1.97), and alcohol use in sexual contexts (OR = 1.98, CI = 1.63-2.39) were all found to be significantly associated with unprotected sex among PLWHA. Taken together, these results suggest that there is a significant link between PLWHA's use of alcohol and their engagement in high-risk sexual behavior. These findings have implications for the development of interventions to reduce HIV transmission risk behavior in this population.
  AIDS and Behavior 08/2009; 13(6):1021-36. · 3.49 Impact Factor