Impact on ICU mortality of moderate alcohol consumption in patients admitted with infection

Alcohol dependence is associated with poor prognosis in the intensive care unit (ICU), but it remains uncertain whether moderate alcohol consumption negatively affects the prognosis of critically ill patients admitted with infection.

In a prospective observational cohort study performed in 478 patients admitted with documented infection, mortality at day 28 in the group of abstainers and nontrauma patients with estimated alcohol consumption lower than 100 g/week was compared with that in non-alcohol-dependent patients with estimated alcohol consumption between 100 and 350 g/week.

In 97 patients (20%), alcohol consumption was estimated to be over 100 g/week, and in 391 patients (80%), alcohol consumption was estimated to be 100 g/week or less. The pathogens identified did not significantly differ between the two groups of patients. After adjusted analysis, alcohol consumption between 100 and 350 g/week remained significantly associated with mortality at day 28 (hazard ratio (HR): 1.67; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-2.77; p = .04).

Alcohol consumption between 100 and 350 g/week was independently associated with mortality at day 28. Our results suggest that in critically ill patients admitted with infection, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a poorer prognosis.