title: [The association between alcohol consumption and health services utilization].
abstract: The association between alcohol consumption patterns and the use of health services was examined in a cross-sectional survey of the general population of the Region of Madrid. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds of moderate drinkers, excessive drinkers and non-drinkers to utilize health care services. Our findings indicate that moderate drinkers have a lower probability of utilizing health care services as compared to non-drinkers. Specifically, moderate drinkers showed a lower probability of utilizing both hospital (OR = 0.65 CI = 0.48-0.89) and ambulatory care (OR = 0.79 CI = 0.66-0.95) services. Furthermore, the frequency of use of ambulatory (OR = 0.79 CI = 0.64-0.95) and emergency care services (OR = 0.38 CI = 0.21-0.69) was also lower for moderate drinkers. Excessive drinkers also showed a tendency to use emergency care services less frequently (OR = 0.43 CI = 0.19-0.93). Both moderate and excessive drinking were also significantly associated with a shorter length of stay as compared to non-drinkers. The odds ratios are 0.41 (CI = 0.21-0.79) and 0.29 (CI = 0.19-0.39) respectively. Possible explanations of this "protective" effect of alcohol consumption, especially of moderate drinking, are discussed in relation to the diagnostic entities motivating the use of health care services.
authors: Instituto Regional de Estudios de la Consejería de Salud de la Comunidad de Madrid.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Peruga
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Martínez
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Martín Sánchez
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Aracil Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013695:Temperance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population
vernacular_title: La asociación entre el consumo de alcohol y la utilización de los servicios sanitarios.