van der Pol V, Rodgers H, Aitken P, James O, Curless R
Department of Medicine (Geriatrics), Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
J Accid Emerg Med. 1996 Jul;13(4):258-60. doi: 10.1136/emj.13.4.258.
To evaluate the possible contribution of alcohol to presentation of elderly subjects at a hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department.
105 patients aged 70 years and over who attended the department were interviewed by a single observer using a structured questionnaire based on previously validated general population surveys. Details of alcohol consumption within the previous 24 hours were recorded. Usual consumption of alcohol in the preceding 12 months was estimated by the quantity frequency method. Alcohol dependence was screened for by the CAGE questionnaire. An assessment of disability was made using the Barthel index. Breath alcohol was measured.
In only 2% of attenders was alcohol thought to be a contributory factor. Breath alcohol measurements were technically unsatisfactory in this age group. Regular drinkers were functionally and socially more independent than non-regular drinkers. Drinking patterns in this age group may partly be determined by the physical ability to obtain alcohol.
Alcohol was not found to be a major factor in A&E attendance in elderly people.
评估酒精对老年患者前往医院急诊部就诊的可能影响。
由一名观察者使用基于先前经验证的一般人群调查的结构化问卷，对105名年龄在70岁及以上前往该科室就诊的患者进行访谈。记录前24小时内的饮酒细节。通过数量频率法估算前12个月内的通常饮酒量。使用CAGE问卷筛查酒精依赖情况。采用巴氏指数进行残疾评估。测量呼气酒精含量。
仅2%的就诊者被认为酒精是一个促成因素。在这个年龄组中，呼气酒精测量在技术上并不理想。经常饮酒者在功能和社交方面比不经常饮酒者更独立。这个年龄组的饮酒模式可能部分取决于获取酒精的身体能力。
未发现酒精是老年人前往急诊部就诊的主要因素。
