Citation

Egerton-Warburton APD, Gosbell A, Moore K, Wadsworth A, Richardson D, Fatovich DM. Addiction 2018; 113(4): 623-632.

Affiliation

Professor of Emergency Medicine, Centre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, University of Western, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/add.14109

PMID

29155471

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Emergency department alcohol-related presentation data are not routinely collected. It is likely that previous research has underestimated the numbers of patients presenting with alcohol-related conditions.

DESIGN: Multicentre, prospective study. Patients were prospectively screened for alcohol-related presentations over a seven-day period in December 2014. Part one involved screening to determine alcohol positive ED presentations, and data collection of patient demographic and clinical information. Part two involved a consent-based survey conducted with patients aged ≥ 14 years to perform Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. SETTING: Eight EDs in Australia and New Zealand, representing differing hospital role delineations. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 8652 patients aged ≥ 14 years attended and 8435 (97.5%) were screened. MEASUREMENTS: The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients who had an alcohol-related presentation termed 'alcohol positive', using predefined criteria. It included injuries, intoxication, medical conditions and injuries caused by an alcohol-affected third party. Secondary outcomes included demographic and clinical information, the type of alcohol-related presentations and AUDIT scores.

FINDINGS: 801 (9.5%; 95%CI, 8.9%-10.1%) presentations were identified as alcohol positive, ranging between 4.9% and 15.2% across sites. Compared with alcohol negative patients, alcohol positive patients were more likely to be male (OR 1.90) (95% CI 1.63-2.21), younger (median age 37 years vs 46 years, P<0.0001), arrive by ambulance (OR 1.94) (95% CI 1.68-2.25) or police/correctional vehicle (OR 4.56) (95% CI 3.05-6.81) and require immediate treatment (OR 3.20) (95% CI 2.03-05.06). The median AUDIT score was 16 (IQR 10-24).

CONCLUSIONS: Almost one in ten presentations to emergency departments in Australia and New Zealand are alcohol related.

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Language: en

Keywords

Australasia; alcohol; alcohol policy; alcohol-related presentations; emergency department; public health