Alcohol-Use Disorders in the Critically Ill Patient

Abstract

A lcohol-use disorders (AUDs) encompass a spectrum of disorders, including excessive use, abuse, dependence, and addiction. Abuse occurs when a patient experiences adverse socioeconomic or health consequences related to the use of the substance. 1 Dependence is present either when the patient experiences withdrawal symptoms on discontinuation of the substance or when larger amounts are necessary to achieve the desired effect. 1 Addiction is indicated by the patient experiencing a compulsive craving for a substance. 1 At any one time, a patient may have more than one of these disorders simultaneously present. The National Institutes of Health 2 have put forth guidelines that quantify excessive and unhealthy use of alcohol; a level of use above this threshold increases a patient's risk for health problems. 3 Men aged Յ 65 years who consume more than four standard drinks in a typical day or . 14 standard drinks in a typical week have excessive and unhealthy alcohol consumption. These volumes are halved for women of all ages and men aged .

Prevalence of and Potential Influencing Factors for Alcohol Dependence in Europe

“…It has been observed in numerous studies that AD and AUDs show a high comorbidity with somatic and mental disorders, and thus are significantly more prevalent in both acute and psychiatric hospital wards [72,73]. …”

Burden of Disease Associated with Alcohol Use Disorders in the United States

“…The Wave 1 NESARC, conducted in 2001 to 2002, surveyed a representative sample ( n = 43,093, response rate = 81.0%) of the adult (18 years of age and older) population of the United States, oversampling Blacks, Hispanics, and young adults 18 to 24 years of age. General population surveys underestimate prevalence of AUD and especially of severe AUD, as the sampling frame does not include some of the special or marginalized populations (Shield and Rehm, 2012) where there is a multifold prevalence of AUD, such as people in hospitals (De Wit et al, 2010; Roche et al, 2006) including psychiatric hospitals, the homeless (Fazel et al, 2008), and people in prisons (Fazel et al, 2006). …”

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome: mechanisms, manifestations, and management

“…It is estimated that up to 42% of patients admitted to general hospitals, and one‐third of patients admitted to hospital intensive care units (ICU) have AUD 2. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a well‐known condition occurring after intentional or unintentional abrupt cessation of heavy/constant drinking, and it occurs in about 8% of hospitalized AUD inpatients 3.…”