Relationship of gender to characteristics of patients referred to a Rural Wisconsin Addiction Treatment Unit

The records of admissions to the inpatient unit of a Rural Wisconsin Addiction Treatment Unit were reviewed, in 1995, for the prior four years (January 1, 1990 through December 31, 1993). After approval by the Institutional Review Board of the Marshfield Medical Research Foundation, the combined medical records were abstracted for presenting information related to social, psychological and medical components. During the four years of observation, there were 821 unique admissions of which 555 (67.6%) were males with a mean age for males and females of 36.3 years. Gender was related to marital status with males more likely to be single and females more likely to be formerly married. Seventy-one (12.8%) of the males were permanently disabled but only 17 (6.4%) of the females. Manufacturing was an occupation for 101 (18.2%) of the males, and 23 (8.6%) of the females considered themselves primarily homemakers. Of the laboratory parameters, only red cell related parameters of MCV and MCH were related to gender. At the time of admission, 99 (37.2%) of the females and 152 (27.4%) of the males were under medical care. One hundred and thirty-two (49.6%) of the females had been a victim of physical assault compared to 89 (16.1%) of the males. A history of disorderly conduct was noted in 274 (49.5%) of the males and 84 (31.6%) of the females. During the period of withdrawal, high blood pressure was noted in 110 (19.9%) of males and 25 (9.4%) of the females. The RAATE estimate of medical and psychological parameters were also related to gender. In this rural setting, the females admitted for treatment were significantly different from males. A substantially higher proportion had previously been victims of physical assault. In addition, females were more likely to have acknowledged psychological problems and to be under medical care. Treatment plans for persons with addiction need to address these issues and plan appropriate treatments.