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Hazardous drinkers in Norwegian hospitals - a cross-sectional study of prevalence and drinking patterns among somatic patients

Oppedal, Kristian ; Nesvåh, Sverre ; Pedersen, Bolette LU ; Daltveit, Jan Tore and Tønnesen, Hanne LU (2011) In Norsk Epidemiologi 21(1). p.93-98
Abstract
Background: High alcohol intake has been associated with increased risk of hospital admission, increased complication rates, and prolonged hospital stay. Thus, hospital admission may present a relevant opportunity for alcohol intervention. To understand the potential of alcohol interventions we need knowledge about patients’ drinking patterns. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the drinking patterns in a Norwegian hospital population.
Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional survey was carried out at three university hospitals. Patients were asked about alcohol intake one month prior to admission/outpatient treatment. The questionnaire included weekly alcohol intake calculated by frequency X quantity as well as episodes of... (More)
Background: High alcohol intake has been associated with increased risk of hospital admission, increased complication rates, and prolonged hospital stay. Thus, hospital admission may present a relevant opportunity for alcohol intervention. To understand the potential of alcohol interventions we need knowledge about patients’ drinking patterns. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the drinking patterns in a Norwegian hospital population.
Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional survey was carried out at three university hospitals. Patients were asked about alcohol intake one month prior to admission/outpatient treatment. The questionnaire included weekly alcohol intake calculated by frequency X quantity as well as episodes of binge drinking (drinking more than 5 AU during a single day). AUDIT-C was used to determine the frequency of patients having a hazardous drinking pattern during the 12 months prior to hospital treatment.
Results: In total we assessed 2,932 patients for eligibility. A total of 2,350 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. We included 1,522 patients (65%) in the analyses. Six percent of the women and 11% of the men reported drinking more than the weekly limits of nine alcohol units (AU) for women and 14 AU for men. Fourteen percent of the women and 29% of the men reported binge drinking during the last month. The frequency of women scoring more or equal to 4 points on AUDIT-C was 20%. The frequency of men scoring more or equal to 5 points was 25%.
Conclusion: Hazardous drinking among Norwegian hospital patients may be more prevalent than what has been reported for the Norwegian population in general. Binge drinking is the dominant drinking pattern. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Norsk Epidemiologi
volume
21
issue
1
pages
6 pages
publisher
Norwegian Epidemiological Society
external identifiers
  • scopus:84855772755
ISSN
0803-2491
DOI
10.5324/nje.v21i1.1431
project
Scand-Ankle: Utveckling av ett evidensbaserat utbildningsprogram för patienter med hög alkoholkonsumtion och fotledsfrakturer i Skandinavien.
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
fa44ae55-d7d8-495a-b056-551610f474ff
date added to LUP
2018-12-06 15:40:09
date last changed
2022-10-16 01:39:45
@article{fa44ae55-d7d8-495a-b056-551610f474ff,
  abstract     = {{Background: High alcohol intake has been associated with increased risk of hospital admission, increased complication rates, and prolonged hospital stay. Thus, hospital admission may present a relevant opportunity for alcohol intervention. To understand the potential of alcohol interventions we need knowledge about patients’ drinking patterns. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the drinking patterns in a Norwegian hospital population.<br/>Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional survey was carried out at three university hospitals. Patients were asked about alcohol intake one month prior to admission/outpatient treatment. The questionnaire included weekly alcohol intake calculated by frequency X quantity as well as episodes of binge drinking (drinking more than 5 AU during a single day). AUDIT-C was used to determine the frequency of patients having a hazardous drinking pattern during the 12 months prior to hospital treatment.<br/>Results: In total we assessed 2,932 patients for eligibility. A total of 2,350 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. We included 1,522 patients (65%) in the analyses. Six percent of the women and 11% of the men reported drinking more than the weekly limits of nine alcohol units (AU) for women and 14 AU for men. Fourteen percent of the women and 29% of the men reported binge drinking during the last month. The frequency of women scoring more or equal to 4 points on AUDIT-C was 20%. The frequency of men scoring more or equal to 5 points was 25%.<br/>Conclusion: Hazardous drinking among Norwegian hospital patients may be more prevalent than what has been reported for the Norwegian population in general. Binge drinking is the dominant drinking pattern.}},
  author       = {{Oppedal, Kristian and Nesvåh, Sverre and Pedersen, Bolette and Daltveit, Jan Tore and Tønnesen, Hanne}},
  issn         = {{0803-2491}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{93--98}},
  publisher    = {{Norwegian Epidemiological Society}},
  series       = {{Norsk Epidemiologi}},
  title        = {{Hazardous drinkers in Norwegian hospitals - a cross-sectional study of prevalence and drinking patterns among somatic patients}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5324/nje.v21i1.1431}},
  doi          = {{10.5324/nje.v21i1.1431}},
  volume       = {{21}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}