Alcohol-related disease adversely affects the outcome of critically ill patients. The burden of this in Scotland is higher than elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
In a prospective observational study of all patients admitted to the 24 intensive care units in Scotland we assessed the proportion of admissions in which alcohol-related disease was implicated.
Of 771 admissions, 642 (83.3%) were unplanned and 196 (25.4%) were related to alcohol. There was a significantly higher proportion of men in the alcohol-related admissions group (140 (71.4%) vs 291 (50.6%), p = 0.009).
This group was also significantly younger with median (IQR [range]) ages of 51 (38–63 [16–89]) vs 63 (48–73 [16–92]) years (p < 0.001).
The alcohol-related group had a significantly longer period of ventilation with a median (IQR [range]) of 2 (1–6 [0–176]) vs 1 (0–4 [0–136]) days (p < 0.005).
Admissions from an area of deprivation were more likely to be related to alcohol.
This group was also significantly younger with median (IQR [range]) ages of 51 (38–63 [16–89]) vs 63 (48–73 [16–92]) years (p < 0.001).
The alcohol-related group had a significantly longer period of ventilation with a median (IQR [range]) of 2 (1–6 [0–176]) vs 1 (0–4 [0–136]) days (p < 0.005).
Admissions from an area of deprivation were more likely to be related to alcohol.
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