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Published on: January 5, 2018
Alcohol abuse in the critically ill patient
Marc Moss1, Ellen Lyda Burnham
1Divison of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA. Marc.Moss@uchsc.edu
Lancet (London, England)
|December 26, 2006
Summary
Alcohol abuse is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients but often undiagnosed. Early recognition of alcohol use disorders is crucial for effective treatment and improved outcomes in critically ill patients.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Addiction Psychiatry
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Alcohol abuse and dependence disorders are prevalent in intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, affecting approximately 10% of patients.
- These disorders are frequently undiagnosed in the ICU setting.
- Systemic effects of excessive alcohol consumption heighten vulnerability to or directly cause critical illnesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the necessity of early identification of alcohol abuse and dependence in critically ill patients.
- To highlight the prognostic and therapeutic significance of alcohol-specific diagnoses.
- To review screening methods, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and therapies for alcohol-related disorders in the ICU.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on alcohol abuse and dependence in critically ill patients.
- Discussion of screening tools for improved diagnosis.
- Analysis of alcohol-related disorders' epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations in the ICU.
Main Results:
- Alcohol-related disorders are common yet often overlooked in ICU patients.
- Undiagnosed alcohol use increases susceptibility to critical illness and complicates management.
- Specific alcohol-related diagnoses have significant implications for patient prognosis and treatment strategies.
Conclusions:
- Early screening and diagnosis of alcohol abuse and dependence are vital for intensive care unit patients.
- Recognizing alcohol-specific conditions enables tailored therapeutic interventions.
- Addressing alcohol-related disorders is essential for optimizing care and outcomes in the critically ill.
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