[Alcohol pathology in a general hospital].

Screening of chronic alcohol intoxication (CAI) based on parallel use of test-questionnaires (CAGE, PAS-questionnaire) and assessment of organic evidence of alcohol abuse were employed in a clinicoepidemiological case-control survey covering 1191 patients aged 16-91 years admitted to a general hospital. 3335 autopsy protocols were analysed by pathoanatomical and forensic-medical criteria of CAI. It was found that CAI, directly or indirectly, raises risk of a wide spectrum of internal diseases which, according to ICD-10, are not directly related to alcohol. Each 5th hospitalization was caused by CAI sequela. Combined use of tests-questionnaires and consideration of physical stigms of CAI are proposed for screening of alcohol abuse and latent alcoholism in general medical practice. The authors think it necessary to establish addictological service at large general hospitals.