1/3 Alcohol Research Consortium in HIV - Administrative Core (ARCH-AC)

This supplemental funding application for the Alcohol Research Consortium on HIV (ARCH)seeks to add COVID-19 related aims to our existing alcohol and HIV epidemiologic andintervention research. This proposal capitalizes on the strengths of the CFAR Network ofIntegrated Clinical Systems (CNICS), which include systematic, on-going collection of patientreported outcomes (PROs) at regular intervals as well as inpatient and outpatient electronicmedical record (EMR) Abstract: Ion. First, using data from all active CNICS patients (N >13,000), we will examine associations between alcohol use prior to and during the SARS-CoV-2pandemic with rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19-related hospitalizations,hospitalization duration, ICU admissions, and mortality. Second, in a subset of hazardousdrinkers (N=100/site across 6 sites), we will implement a COVID-19 alcohol survey to capturelongitudinal data (4 surveys over 12 - 18 months) on quantity/frequency of alcohol consumption,drinking locations and partners, as well as motivations for drinking. The survey also will assessperceived personal and family threat from SARS-CoV-2, compliance with social distancing andstay-at-home orders, COVID-19 specific stressors (e.g., reduced wages, reduced/no childcare,food shortage, transportation, access to health care for ongoing health problems), and levels ofperceived stress. We will examine changes in alcohol use characteristics during and after theSARS-CoV-2 pandemic as a function of pre-pandemic alcohol use patterns, depressive andanxiety symptom severity, perceived stress and compliance with social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Third, we will study the impact of changes in alcohol use patterns on HIVtreatment outcomes. We will validate drinking self-report using the alcohol biomarker PEth in asubsample of survey participants (N=40/site across 6 sites). Finally, survey participants will ratetheir interest in telehealth alcohol counseling and provide information on availability ofequipment and internet access for implementation. Findings on COVID-19 related changes indrinking characteristics and patient interest in telehealth care models will position us toeffectively implement remote counseling models for alcohol interventions in the future.