Epidemiological and sociodemographic factors associated with complicated alcohol withdrawal syndrome

• Published in: Revista clínica espanõla (English edition) 2017-10, Vol.217 (7), p.381-386
• Main Authors: Monte-Secades, R., Blanco-Soto, M., Díaz-Peromingo, J.A., Sanvisens-Bergé, A., Martín-González, M.C., Barbosa, A., Rosón-Hernández, B., Tejero-Delgado, M.A., Puerta-Louro, R., Rabuñal-Rey, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome; Educational level; Epidemiology; Epidemiología; Factores de riesgo; Nivel educativo; Risk factors; Síndrome de abstinencia alcohólica
• ISSN: 2254-8874; 2254-8874
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rceng.2017.05.003

To analyze the influence of epidemiological and sociodemographic factors in complicated alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). A multicentre, observational prospective study was conducted on consecutively added patients with AWS hospitalised in internal medicine departments. We recorded sociodemographic, epidemiological, clinical and progression data. Complicated AWS was defined as that which progressed with seizures or delirium tremens. We studied 228 episodes of AWS in 219 patients. The mean age was 54.5 years (SD, 11.5), and 90.8% were men. AWS was the cause for hospitalization in 39.9% of the patients. Some 27.1% of the cases presented seizures, and 32.4% presented delirium tremens. The daily quantity of alcohol ingested was 17.8 standard drink units (SD, 21.4), with 16.6 years of dependence (SD, 11.3). The pattern of alcohol abuse was regular in 82.8% of the patients. Some 38.4% of the patients were married or had a partner, and 45.6% had children. Some 72.7% of the patients were unemployed or retired. Some 68.5% had only completed primary studies. Some 4.8% consumed cannabis, 5.2% consumed cocaine and 3% consumed opioids. The independent variables related to complicated AWS were consumption of a drug other than alcohol (OR, 5.3; 95% CI 1.5–18.7), low education level (OR, 3.4; 95% CI 1.6–7.3) and hospitalization for AWS (OR, 2.9; 95% CI 1.5–5.6). The model's receiver operating characteristic area was 0.718 (95% CI 0.643–0.793). Concomitant drug abuse and a low educational level could help identify patients at risk of complicated AWS. Analizar la influencia de los factores epidemiológicos y sociodemográficos en el síndrome de abstinencia alcohólica (SAA) complicado. Estudio multicéntrico, observacional, prospectivo de enfermos consecutivos con SAA ingresados en servicios de Medicina Interna. Se registraron datos sociodemográficos, epidemiológicos, clínicos y evolutivos. Se definió SAA complicado como aquel que había cursado con convulsiones o delirium tremens. Se estudiaron 228 episodios de SAA en 219 pacientes. La edad media fue de 54,5 años (DE 11,5), y el 90,8% fueron hombres. El SAA fue la causa de ingreso en el 39,9%. El 27,1% de los casos presentaron crisis comiciales y el 32,4% delirium tremens. La cantidad ingerida de alcohol diaria fue 17,8 unidades de bebida estándar (DE 21,4), con 16,6 años de dependencia (DE 11,3). El patrón de abuso de alcohol fue regular en el 82,8%. Vivían casados o en pareja el 38,4% y el 45,6% tenía hijos. Un 72,7% estaba