Acute alcoholic intoxication at the hospital: A clinical stake. A prospective study of one year in a general hospital

Introduction. - Acute alcoholic intoxications (AAI) are frequent in hospitals. This entails some difficulties to caregivers and their clinical approach is little developed in France. This study aimed at estimating perception of alcohol consumption of hospitalized people with positive alcohol blood test at admission. Alcohol measurements were nonsystematic and ordered by a physician. Then this study assessed the role of a clinical interview the day after an AAI. Methods. - Each person admitted with a positive alcohol blood test was systematically met by a professional in addictology, referring to a procedure in process for 10 years in this hospital. A prospective collection of the data was performed during 2006. Results. - Nine hundred and seventy-three episodes were identified corresponding to 758 persons (78% of men and 22% of women). The average alcohol blood level was 2.06 +/- 1.18 g/L. Eighty-five percent of those patients were admitted and 52% were interviewed. Damage due to alcohol was identified for 69% and a misuse of alcohol for 92% (19% abuse, 73% dependence according to the DSM IV), without significant correlation to alcohol blood level. Conclusion. - Blood alcohol level assay at the hospital admission, when the test has been medically recommended, targets a misusing alcohol group of people. These patients need addictologic care, after a first toxicological stage. This study confirms that in such a case a discussion offer is possible and agreed by diseased people. This offer is a first step towards people who could not express explicitly their need for help and constitute an opportunity to care. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.