Interventions of Emergency Medical Teams for health threats caused by ethyl alcohol intoxication in 2021-2022

Abstract

Aim: Analysis of interventions by emergency medical teams (EMT) for alcohol-related patients in 2021-2022. Material and methods: The study involved a 2-year retrospective analysis of dispatches by the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from a part of the Lublin Voivodeship. The analysis covers the period from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2022. Data were obtained from the medical documentation of the dispatch units of the National Medical Rescue System. The study included interventions based on the reason for the call communicated to the medical dispatcher (MD) by the reporter, diagnosis code according to ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases). Results: Using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 820 interventions (303 in 2021, 517 in 2022) related to the study’s objective were selected, accounting for 5.92% of all interventions in the analyzed area (2021- N=7069, 2022- N=6769). The one-way ANOVA confirmed the existence of statistically significant differences (all P for trend<0.05) between procedures (Detox/psych vs. Remained vs. Transfer ED) and time of the intervention, type of medical rescue team, location of the incident, pharmacotherapy, police co-participated, ICD -10. Conclusions: Most EMT interventions (both single and multiple to the same patient) concern men. Hospital transport was mainly necessary in the group of causes: mental disorders and injuries. The longest intervention time was in the “mental disorders” group calls, which may be related to the necessity of hospital transport. Health risks were mainly identified from groups F, S, and Y.