biostudies-literatureUnknown12Manthey J<h4>Background</h4>During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase of heavy alcohol use has been reported in several high-income countries. We examined changes in alcohol use during the pandemic among primary health care (PHC) patients in two middle income countries, Colombia and Mexico.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were collected during routine consultations in 34 PHC centres as part of a large-scale implementation study. Providers measured patients' alcohol consumption with the three item 'Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test' (AUDIT-C). Generalized linear mixed models were performed to examine changes in two dependent variables over time (pre-pandemic and during pandemic): 1) the AUDIT-C score and 2) the proportion of heavy drinking patients (8+ on AUDIT-C).<h4>Results</h4>Over a period of more tJournal of global health05002https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8932607biostudies-literatureReduced alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analyses of 17 000 patients seeking primary health care in Colombia and Mexico.PMC8932607Braddick FLopez-Pelayo HPiazza Mde Vries HMejia-Trujillo JMedina PRehm JCarr SBautista NO'Donnell ARey GNAnderson PSolovei ASchulte BJane-Llopis EManthey JPerez-Gomez AfalseReduced alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analyses of 17 000 patients seeking primary health care in Colombia and Mexico.<h4>Background</h4>During the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase of heavy alcohol use has been reported in several high-income countries. We examined changes in alcohol use during the pandemic among primary health care (PHC) patients in two middle income countries, Colombia and Mexico.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were collected during routine consultations in 34 PHC centres as part of a large-scale implementation study. Providers measured patients' alcohol consumption with the three item 'Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test' (AUDIT-C). Generalized linear mixed models were performed to examine changes in two dependent variables over time (pre-pandemic and during pandemic): 1) the AUDIT-C score and 2) the proportion of heavy drinking patients (8+ on AUDIT-C).<h4>Results</h4>Over a period of more t2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-05-29T21:52:59.179Z2025-05-29T21:52:59.179ZS-EPMC89326073535665210.7189/jogh.12.05002