STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the rates of alcohol-related morbidity and mortality in a cohort of intoxicated ED patients 5 years after presentation and to compare them with those of non-intoxicated ED patients. METHODS: The study group comprised 150 consecutive ED patients who presented with intoxication (blood alcohol level higher than 100 mg/dL) in June 1986 and 50 control patients matched for age, sex, ED arrival time, and date. The setting was an urban university hospital ED. Morbidity and mortality over a 5-year follow-up period were measured using hospital ED and admission records from all state Level I trauma centers and computerized statewide databases. RESULTS: The 5-year mortality rate among alcohol-intoxicated patients was 2.4 times that of the comparison group (95% confidence interval, .3 to 18.9). The 5-year death rate among intoxicated patients aged 40 to 69 years was especially high (19%). Thirty-seven percent of the intoxicated patients made at least one alcohol-related ED revisit during the follow-up period, compared with 6% of the comparison group (P < .001). Intoxicated patients were more likely to revisit EDs because of suicidal behavior or domestic violence (P = .001). Admission to an alcohol detoxification unit during the follow-up period occurred in 24% of the intoxicated patients, compared with 10% of the sober controls (P = .03). At least one arrest for drunk driving occurred in 47% of the intoxicated group; the rate was lower, but still substantial, in the comparison group (20%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: A single alcohol-related ED visit is an important predictor of continued problem drinking, alcohol-impaired driving and, possibly, premature death.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the rates of alcohol-related morbidity and mortality in a cohort of intoxicated ED patients 5 years after presentation and to compare them with those of non-intoxicated ED patients. METHODS: The study group comprised 150 consecutive ED patients who presented with intoxication (blood alcohol level higher than 100 mg/dL) in June 1986 and 50 control patients matched for age, sex, ED arrival time, and date. The setting was an urban university hospital ED. Morbidity and mortality over a 5-year follow-up period were measured using hospital ED and admission records from all state Level I trauma centers and computerized statewide databases. RESULTS: The 5-year mortality rate among alcohol-intoxicated patients was 2.4 times that of the comparison group (95% confidence interval, .3 to 18.9). The 5-year death rate among intoxicated patients aged 40 to 69 years was especially high (19%). Thirty-seven percent of the intoxicated patients made at least one alcohol-related ED revisit during the follow-up period, compared with 6% of the comparison group (P < .001). Intoxicated patients were more likely to revisit EDs because of suicidal behavior or domestic violence (P = .001). Admission to an alcohol detoxification unit during the follow-up period occurred in 24% of the intoxicated patients, compared with 10% of the sober controls (P = .03). At least one arrest for drunk driving occurred in 47% of the intoxicated group; the rate was lower, but still substantial, in the comparison group (20%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: A single alcohol-related ED visit is an important predictor of continued problem drinking, alcohol-impaired driving and, possibly, premature death.
Authors: Edward Bernstein; Judith Bernstein; James Feldman; William Fernandez; Melissa Hagan; Patricia Mitchell; Clara Safi; Robert Woolard; Mike Mello; Janette Baird; Christina Lee; Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi; Kerry Broderick; Kathryn A Laperrier; Arthur Kellermann; Marlena M Wald; Robert E Taylor; Kim Walton; Michelle Grant-Ervin; Denise Rollinson; David Edwards; Theodore Chan; Dan Davis; Jean Buchanan Marshall; Robert Aseltine; Amy James; Elizabeth Schilling; Khamis Abu-Hasaballah; Brigitte M Baumann; Edwin D Boudreaux; Ronald F Maio; Rebecca M Cunningham; Teresa Murrell; David Doezema; Deirdre Anglin; Adriana Eliassen; Marcus Martin; Jesse Pines; Leslie Buchanan; James Turner; Gail D'Onofrio; Linda C Degutis; Patricia Owens Journal: Subst Abus Date: 2007 Impact factor: 3.716
Authors: Larry M Gentilello; Beth E Ebel; Thomas M Wickizer; David S Salkever; Frederick P Rivara Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 12.969
Authors: Kerry B Broderick; Megan L Ranney; Federico E Vaca; Gail D'Onofrio; Richard E Rothman; Karin V Rhodes; Bruce Becker; Jason S Haukoos Journal: Acad Emerg Med Date: 2009-11 Impact factor: 3.451
Authors: R Touquet; E Csipke; P Holloway; A Brown; T Patel; A J Seddon; P Gulati; H Moore; N Batrick; M J Crawford Journal: Emerg Med J Date: 2008-11 Impact factor: 2.740