Hart CL, Davey Smith G
Alcohol consumption and use of acute and mentalhealth hospital services in the West of ScotlandCollaborative prospective cohort study. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]
J Epidemiol Community Health 2009 Jul 1.
BACKGROUND: Overconsumption of alcohol affects health.Data from men from the West of Scotland Collaborativestudy were analysed to see how reported alcohol wasrelated to acute and mental health hospital admissions.
METHODS: Men (N=5772) from a prospective cohortstudy located in 27 workplaces in West and CentralScotland were screened when aged 35-64 in 1970-3.The number of acute and mental health admissions andbed-days were calculated by alcohol category (none, 1-7,8-14, 15-21, 22-34 and 35 or more units per week) tothe end of 2005. Specific causes were coronary heartdisease (CHD), stroke, respiratory diseases and alcoholrelated.
RESULTS: Men who consumed 22 or more units per weekhad a 20% higher rate of acute admissions than nondrinkers.The number of bed-days were higher for mendrinking eight or more units and increased withconsumption, with the highest category having a 58%higher rate of bed-days than non-drinkers. Non-drinkershad the highest admissions for CHD. For stroke, drinkersof 15 or more units had higher admissions and highernumber of bed-days and these increased with increasingconsumption. Respiratory admissions were higher fordrinkers of 22 or more units and bed-days were higher fordrinkers of 15 or more units. Alcohol-related admissionsand number of bed-days generally increased withconsumption. Mental health admissions and number ofbed-days were raised for drinkers of 22 or more units witha suggestion of a J-shaped relationship.
CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption has a substantialeffect on acute and mental health admissions and bed-days.
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