Abstract
Background
In 2008, we conducted an audit in our general intensive care unit (ICU) which demonstrated a high workload from alcohol-related admissions which represented 12 % of total admissions and 16.8 % of total available bed days at that time.
Aims
To repeat the audit 5 years later in 2013 to assess the current workload from alcohol-related admissions and whether this had increased or decreased in the intervening time period.
Methods
We retrospectively collected data from every admission to our 17-bed general ICU for the 6-month period from June 1 2013 to November 30 2013. We identified all admissions that were related to alcohol misuse. Their admission diagnosis, age, gender, ICU length of stay, APACHE 2 score (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation 2) and 30-day mortality were recorded. The results of the 2013 audit were then compared with data from the 2008 study.
Results
There were 30 % less alcohol-related admissions to our ICU in 2013 compared to the same period in 2008. The study group had a longer length of stay on average but a lower mortality than the control group.
Conclusion
There has been a significant reduction in the ICU workload from alcohol-related admissions in our general ICU in the past 5 years.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
McKenny M, O’Beirne S, Fagan C, O’Connell M (2010) Alcohol-related admissions to an intensive care unit in Dublin. Ir J Med Sci 179:405–408
Long J, Mongan D (2014) Alcohol consumption in Ireland 2013: analysis of a national alcohol diary survey. Health Research Board
Paljarvi T, Martikainen P, Leinonen T, Pensola T, Makela P (2014) Non-employment histories of middle-aged men and women who died from alcohol-related causes: a longitudinal retrospective study. PLoS ONE 9:e98620
CSO Seasonally Adjusted Standardised Unemployment Rates. Central Statistics Office
Gacouin A, Tadie JM, Uhel F et al (2014) At-risk drinking is independently associated with ICU and one-year mortality in critically ill nontrauma patients. Crit Care Med 42:860–867
O’Brien JM Jr, Lu B, Ali NA et al (2007) Alcohol dependence is independently associated with sepsis, septic shock, and hospital mortality among adult intensive care unit patients. Crit Care Med 35:345–350
Gili M, Garcia Campayo J, Roca M (2014) Economic crisis and mental health. SESPAS report 2014. Gac Sanit 28 Suppl 1:104–108
Kalousova L, Burgard SA (2014) Unemployment, measured and perceived decline of economic resources: contrasting three measures of recessionary hardships and their implications for adopting negative health behaviors. Soc Sci Med 106:28–34
Mattei G, Ferrari S, Pingani L, Rigatelli M (2014) Short-term effects of the 2008 Great Recession on the health of the Italian population: an ecological study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 49:851–858
Murphy K, Sahm L, McCarthy S, Lambert S, Byrne S (2013) Substance use in young persons in Ireland, a systematic review. Addict Behav 38:2392–2401
Laffoy M, McCarthy T, Mullen L, Byrne D, Martin J (2013) Cancer incidence and mortality due to alcohol: an analysis of 10-year data. Ir Med J 106:294–297
Conflict of interest
The authors have no financial interests to disclose and declare no conflicts of interest. This audit did not require any funding and patient confidentiality has been maintained.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Larkin, C.M., Fagan, C. Significant reduction in alcohol-related admissions to an intensive care unit in Dublin. Ir J Med Sci 184, 697–700 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-015-1281-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-015-1281-x