Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA.
J Aging Health. 2011 Feb;23(1):86-111. doi: 10.1177/0898264310383156. Epub 2010 Oct 8.
This study examined the relationship between drinking that exceeds guideline-recommended limits and acute-care utilization for ambulatory-care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs) by older Medicare beneficiaries.
This secondary data analysis used the 2001-2006 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (unweighted n = 5,570 community dwelling, past-year drinkers, 65 years and older). Self-reported alcohol consumption (categorized as within guidelines, exceeding monthly but not daily limits, or heavy episodic) and covariates were used to predict ACSC hospitalization, emergency department visit not resulting in admission, and emergency department visit that did result in admission.
Heavy episodic drinking was significantly associated with higher likelihood of an ACSC emergency department visit not resulting in admission (adjusted odds ratio = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.11-3.30; p < .05). Drinking pattern was not significant for other ACSC measures.
Results partially support the hypothesis that excessive drinking may be related to ACSC acute-care utilization among older adults, suggesting increased risk of lower quality outpatient care.
本研究调查了超过指南推荐限量的饮酒与老年 Medicare 受惠者的门诊治疗敏感疾病（ACSCs）的急症护理利用之间的关系。
本二次数据分析使用了 2001-2006 年 Medicare 现行受益调查（未加权 n = 5570 名居住在社区、过去一年有饮酒行为、年龄在 65 岁及以上的人群）。自我报告的酒精摄入量（分为符合指南、超过月但不超过日限量、或重度间歇性）和协变量用于预测 ACSC 住院、急诊但未入院治疗和急诊但已入院治疗。
重度间歇性饮酒与 ACSC 急诊但未入院治疗的可能性显著相关（调整后的优势比 = 1.91，95%CI：1.11-3.30；p <.05）。对于其他 ACSC 指标，饮酒模式不显著。
结果部分支持这样的假设，即过度饮酒可能与老年人的 ACSC 急症护理利用有关，提示门诊护理质量下降的风险增加。
