Social class and morbidity in clinically treated alcoholics

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Social class is a known determinant of health outcomes.
• Understanding its impact on alcoholism-related morbidity is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the lifetime physical disease profiles of lower-class versus middle-class alcoholics.
• To clarify the role of social class in alcoholic morbidity.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of lifetime illness diagnoses.
• Inpatient treatment facility data from 122 lower-class and 724 middle-class alcoholics were examined.

Main Results:

• Lower-class alcoholics exhibited greater overall physical disease severity and higher frequencies of diagnoses, including trauma, genitourinary disorders, venereal disease, and malnutrition.
• Similarities were observed in liver, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders.
• Drinking patterns were alike, but lower-class individuals had longer hazardous drinking durations and higher current consumption.

Conclusions:

• Social class significantly influences the pattern and severity of physical diseases in alcoholics.
• While some disorders showed no class difference, others like trauma and malnutrition were more prevalent in lower-class individuals.
• Referral sources differed significantly between social classes, suggesting varied access to care.