EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ALCOHOL-RELATED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS

Objective: To examine the population and geographic patterns, patient characteristics, and clinical presentations and outcomes of alcohol-re lated ED visits at a national level. Methods: Cross-sectional data on a probability sample of 21,886 ED visits from the 1995 National Hospit al Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were analyzed with consideration of the individual patient visit weight. The annual number and rates of al cohol-related ED visits mere computed based on weighted analysis in re lation to demographic characteristics and geographic region. Specific variables of alcohol-related ED visits examined included demographic a nd medical characteristics, patient-reported reasons for visit, and ph ysicians' principal diagnoses. Results: Of the 96.5 million ED visits in 1995, an estimated 2.6 million (2.7%) were related to alcohol abuse . The overall annual rate of alcohol-related ED visits was 10.0 visits per 1,000 population [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.7-11.3]. Higher rates were found for men (14.7 per 1,000, 95% CI 12.5-16.9), adults ag ed 25 to 44 years (17.8 per 1,000, 95% CI 15.0-20.6), blacks (18.1 per 1,000, 95% CI 14.0-22.1), and residents living in the northeast regio n (15.2 per 1,000, 95% CI 12.1-18.2). Patients whose visits were alcoh ol-related were more likely than other patients to be uninsured, smoke rs, or depressive. Alcohol-related ED visits were 1.6 times as likely as other visits to be injury-related, and 1.8 times as likely to be ra ted as ''urgent'' or ''emergent.'' The leading principal reasons for a lcohol-related ED visits were complaints of pain, injury, and drinking problems. Alcohol abuse/dependence was the principal diagnosis for 20 % of the alcohol-related visits. Conclusion: Alcohol abuse poses a maj or burden on the emergency medical care system. The age, gender, and g eographic characteristics of alcohol-related ED visits are consistent with drinking patterns in the general population.