Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and Methaemoglobin of Alcoholics Resident in Bayelsa State

Background and Objective: The goal of the World Health Organization (WHO) on alcohol public health is to reduce the health burden of harmful alcohol use and thus save lives, reduce sickness and avoid injury. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate C-reactive protein and methaemoglobin of alcoholic residents in Bayelsa State which will aid us in forming a diagnostic tool for the diseases associated with alcohol consumption with good management outcomes. Materials and Methods: The study included 200 participants; comprising males and females within the age bracket of 15-65 years. A well-structured pre-tested questionnaire was administered to obtain information used to categorize participants into groups; Group 1(non-alcohol consumers (<1 drink monthly), Group 2 (occasional alcohol consumers (1-3 drinks/month), Group 3 (moderate alcohol consumers (1-5 drinks/week) and Group 4 (heavy alcohol consumers (>2 drinks/day). Results: The C-reactive protein showed a J-shaped pattern; was significantly higher in the control group (2.34±0.54 mg/dL) and lower in Group 3 (2.02±0.16 mg/dL) while methaemoglobin which was significantly higher when control (20.68±1.24) was compared to Group 4 (48.48±7.34) and Group 3 (28.96±3.82) but significantly lower when compared to Group 2 (9.45±2.03). Conclusion: The study concluded that chronic alcohol consumption could be a potential inflammation suppressant and can cause severe hypoxia.