Health consequences of alcohol abuse on the example of patients of the Emergency Department at the University Hospital in Bialystok

Abstract

The aim: To assess patients admitted to the Emergency Department requiring hospitalization in whom the presence of alcohol has been stated in laboratory tests. Material and methods: The study was conducted on the basis of medical documentation analysis of 134 patients treated in Emergency Department in whom blood alcohol has been stated. The study included: sociodemographic data, blood alcohol concentration, the reason for hospitalization, the average duration of hospitalization and the patient’s future. Results: Retrospective study was based on medical records of134patients treated in the Emergency Department of the University Hospital in Bialystok from 01/01/2016 to 01/06/2016.The analysis took into account patients whose laboratory tests results showed an alcohol concentration above 0.004 ‰.The most common reason for hospitalization for examined patients was alcohol intoxicationa 26%.For 25% of examined patients, the cause of hospitalization was alcohol addiction syndrome, 19%drug poisoning,13% gastrointestinal bleeding. Almost 20% of patients was hospitalized in the Emergency Department with multiple injuries. Conclusions: The majority of patients hospitalized in Emergency Departments are patients under the influence of alcohol. Such patients are a cause of Emergency Departments overload, which are not efficient due to the number of patients who use the services of EDs instead primary healthcare facilities. Other causes of hospitalization of alcoholic patients are associated with constant exposure to alcohol. Such situation suggests changes in the health care system which would relieve EDs and involve other units of the health care system. The system should focus on education and treatment of patients by non-invasive methods, i.e. psychotherapy or other psychological help.