Alcohol abuse in elderly emergency department patients.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of alcohol abuse in elderly emergency department (ED) patients; to determine the prevalence of alcohol abuse for various categories of illness and injury among these patients; and to determine the frequency of detection of elderly alcohol abusers by ED physicians.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional prevalence study.

SETTING

The emergency department of a 625-bed university hospital that serves a mixed urban and rural population.

PATIENTS

205 patients aged 65 and over who came to the ED during an 8-week period.

MEASURES

A structured interview, which included the CAGE questionnaire and other questions regarding alcohol use, was administered. Emergency department records and past medical records were reviewed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of lifetime alcohol abuse (CAGE positive or self-reported drinking problem) was 24%. The prevalence of current alcohol abuse (CAGE positive or self-reported drinking problem and alcohol use within the last year) was 14%. There was a particularly high prevalence (22%) among those presenting with gastrointestinal problems and a surprisingly low prevalence (7%) among those who presented with falls or other trauma. Physicians detected only 21% of the current alcohol abusers.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol abuse is a prevalent and important problem among elderly ED patients. It is not well detected by physicians in this setting. Alcohol abuse appears to be less common among elderly trauma patients than their younger counterparts, but is very common among patients with gastrointestinal problems.