[Alcoholism in the general hospital: 4 years mortality and hospitalization]

We aimed to analyze the mortality, and emergency room and hospital admissions in a sample of alcohol dependent patients during the four years following their identification in a general hospital.

198 inpatients from a general hospital who where identified as alcohol dependent and referred during 1998 to the liaison-psychiatry service.

30.8% had died, at a mean age of 57.5 (11.3). Deaths had a direct relationship to the illness responsible for the initial admission to hospital. 42.6% of patients had previous admissions, and 74% had been previously attended at emergency room departments. During the 4 years of follow up, there were new hospital admissions (54.6%), emergency room visits (72.7%) and repeated liaison-psychiatry consultations (20%). Previous admissions to hospital predicted future admissions. Acceptance of alcohol treatment did not reduce the mortality rates. Mortality correlated with age, it was increased in patients with cognitive deficits and was reduced in those with psychiatric co-morbidity.

Late detection of alcohol dependence leads to pour outcomes both in the treatment of alcohol dependence and the concomitant somatic diseases. Early detection strategies of hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption should be implemented in hospital settings.