Murali Krishna1, Dharma Rao Vanamali2. 1. Resident, Department of Internal Medicine, Mamata Medical College , Andhra Pradesh-507002, India . 2. Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Mamata Medical College , Andhra Pradesh-507002, India .
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Alcohol addiction is very common in India, and is a major risk factor and etiology of many acute medical and surgical emergencies. Alcohol addiction history is frequently missed by medical team in emergency department. The present study is to investigate the prevalence of alcoholism among emergency department patients and to determine its rate of recognition by the medical team. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is double blind cross-sectional study done in a 750 bedded tertiary care hospital (Mamata general hospital, Khammam). The study population consisted of all patients admitted in the emergency room and who stayed in the hospital for a minimum period of 24 hours between 1(st) March 2013 and 30(th) April 2013. RESULTS: Total of 144 patients were interviewed, 62 (43.05%) were identified as alcoholics in emergency department by treating doctors. On reviewing the records additional 11 (7.63%) were identified as alcoholics, out of which 2 (1.38%) were fulfilling the criteria for severe alcoholism. CONCLUSION: Alcoholism is often not investigated and diagnosed on hospital admission. Standardized diagnostic tool will improve the identification of alcoholic patients. This is the first step to reduce alcohol consumption and offer appropriate treatment to these patients.
INTRODUCTION:Alcohol addiction is very common in India, and is a major risk factor and etiology of many acute medical and surgical emergencies. Alcohol addiction history is frequently missed by medical team in emergency department. The present study is to investigate the prevalence of alcoholism among emergency department patients and to determine its rate of recognition by the medical team. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is double blind cross-sectional study done in a 750 bedded tertiary care hospital (Mamata general hospital, Khammam). The study population consisted of all patients admitted in the emergency room and who stayed in the hospital for a minimum period of 24 hours between 1(st) March 2013 and 30(th) April 2013. RESULTS: Total of 144 patients were interviewed, 62 (43.05%) were identified as alcoholics in emergency department by treating doctors. On reviewing the records additional 11 (7.63%) were identified as alcoholics, out of which 2 (1.38%) were fulfilling the criteria for severe alcoholism. CONCLUSION:Alcoholism is often not investigated and diagnosed on hospital admission. Standardized diagnostic tool will improve the identification of alcoholic patients. This is the first step to reduce alcohol consumption and offer appropriate treatment to these patients.
Authors: G D'Onofrio; E Bernstein; J Bernstein; R H Woolard; P A Brewer; S A Craig; B J Zink Journal: Acad Emerg Med Date: 1998-12 Impact factor: 3.451
Authors: L M Gentilello; F P Rivara; D M Donovan; G J Jurkovich; E Daranciang; C W Dunn; A Villaveces; M Copass; R R Ries Journal: Ann Surg Date: 1999-10 Impact factor: 12.969