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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
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Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
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Assessing alcohol dependence in hospitalized patients
Juliana Doering-Silveira1, Thiago Marques Fidalgo2, Carolina Lins E Silva Nascimento3
1Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo School of Medicine, Rua Prof. Ascendino Reis 763, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Doering-Silveira@unifesp.br.
Summary
A significant portion of hospitalized patients exhibit alcohol dependence, with males being more susceptible. Systematic screening for alcohol use disorders in hospitals is crucial for early detection and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Public Health
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Alcohol misuse often goes undetected in hospital settings, leading to potential complications.
- Estimating the prevalence of alcohol use disorders among inpatients is vital for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence in hospitalized patients at a Brazilian university hospital.
- To identify predictors of alcohol dependence within this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Random sampling of 169 adult inpatients from all hospital admissions.
- Utilized two screening tools: the Short Alcohol Dependence Data (SADD) and the CAGE questionnaires.
- Analyzed demographic data, focusing on gender as a potential predictor.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of alcohol dependence was 25.4% (CAGE) and 32.9% (SADD).
- Male inpatients were 3.2 times more likely to have alcohol dependence than female inpatients.
- Gender was the sole significant predictor of alcohol dependence in the study sample.
Conclusions:
- Systematic screening for alcohol use disorders in all inpatients is recommended.
- The CAGE questionnaire is suggested as a first-step screening tool, followed by the SADD for severity assessment.
- Early identification and intervention for alcohol-related problems in hospital settings can improve patient outcomes.
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