Accesses for alcohol intoxication to the emergency department and the risk of re-hospitalization: An observational retrospective study

Background Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are a frequent cause of admission to emergency departments (EDs) for acute alcohol intoxication (AAI). Patients with AUD present a higher risk of readmission to EDs for AAI than the general population, however, the distinction between sporadic AAI and AAI in the context of AUD in the ED setting is difficult. Aims To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of patients admitted to EDs because of AAI and to identify factors associated with repeated admissions in order to develop a risk stratification system for patients with AUD based on objective data that can be easily applied in an ED setting. Methods An observational retrospective study was performed. All patients with diagnosis of AAI at admission in 2014 were enrolled. Results Five hundred and sixty-five patients were enrolled, of which 92 (16%) were admitted more than once to the ED. At multivariate analysis, factors associated with readmission were past episodes of alcohol abuse, social discomfort, previous traumas and psychiatric disorders. Basing on this parameter, a risk-score for re-hospitalization was developed. This score has a high predictive power for the risk of readmission to the ED (AROC 0.837, 95%CI 0.808–0.866), moreover, the cumulative probability of readmission within one year, increased in parallel with score value, being highest in patients presenting 3 or more risk factors. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that several risk factors stratify the risk of re-hospitalization in patients admitted to EDs for AAI, allowing the identification of those presenting more severe conditions and who would likely benefit from multidisciplinary intervention.