English summary: ALCOHOL INTOXICATION AND DEPENDENCE IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS

Background

Alcohol intoxication and dependence are prominent causes for visits to and disturbances in Emergency Departments (ED). In Finland heavy alcohol consumption is increasing and so are the problems associated with it. However, there have been few studies of the proportion of these patients in the ED.

Methods

We studied the frequency of alcohol and drug problems in patients in Peijas Hospital's Emergency Department during 26.9.-2.10.2005 and 13.-19.12.2005. Peijas Hospital serves a population of 230 000 and is a part of Helsinki University Central Hospital. Its ED covers 16 500 visits to specialists and 48 500 visits to general practitioners each year. The ED nurses completed a form designed specially for the study while performing the routine arrival interview of patients.

Results

During the two study weeks 1 637 patients aged 18 years or older attended the Peijas ED. 1 339 study forms were completed (82%). According to the nurses' assessments 12.5% of the patients were under the influence of alcohol and 13.5% were alcohol abusers. When the "possibly" categories were included, altogether 27% of all ED attendees had alcohol use disorders. This figure includes just a few drug-addicts. The patient notes confirmed the nurses' assessments in almost every case. However, only 38% of these patients had a diagnosis related to alcohol use.

Conclusions

Alcohol and drug related problems are common among ED attendees. 27% of the ED patients were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of presentation, or were alcohol abusers. Almost two thirds of these patients do not have a misuse-related diagnosis.