[Subjective well-being, morbidity and health care consumption by hazardous, harmful and problem alcohol drinkers]

The aim of this work was to investigate subjective well-being, morbidity and healthcare needs of persons with hazardous, harmful and problematic alcohol consumption.

Data from a questionnaire-based survey performed on a representative sample of 2221 persons (of these, 51.4% were men) aged 18 to 39 (average age 29.9, s.d. 5.8) were used for the analysis. The level of risk related to alcohol consumption was assessed through the screening questionnaire (the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT], and categorization into 4 groups with critical scores of 8, 16 and 20 was applied to the analysis. The questionnaire focussed on the respondents' drinking habits and health and their demographic, social, and psychological background and circumstances.

The respondents' subjective assessment of their physical and mental health varied significantly across the different score categories in AUDIT. Over one-quarter of the respondents falling in the category of harmful or problem drinkers rated their physical and/or mental health as poor or very poor. Compared to no-problem alcohol users, problem drinkers sought special help for emotional problems more frequently (3.1% vs. 21.3%; p < 0.01); visited their doctors more frequently during the past year (3.1 vs. 4.8; p < 0.05); had more episodes of illness (1.4 vs. 6.8; p < 0.01), more days of sick leave (10.4 vs. 27.6; p < 0.01); and were hospitalized more frequently (6.9% vs. 18.7%; p < 0.01).

The results support/confirm the link between hazardous, harmful and problematic alcohol consumption on the one hand and the drinkers' perception of their health status and use of medical/healthcare services on the other hand. A modification of inappropriate consumption patterns through a short intervention by a general practitioner can lead to health improvement and reduction of the drinkers' healthcare costs.