[Alcohol consumption among patients aged 65 and over in an emergency medical department. A comparison between medical records and interviews].
METHODS
Two hundred and seven randomly selected patients more than 65 years of age were interviewed about their alcohol habits in a max. 15 minutes interview. The consumption was classified as "borderline consumption" (BC): 14/21 drinks per week female/male, "heavy users" (HU): more than 14/21 drinks per week female/male and "control group" (CG): less than 14/21 drinks per week female/male.


RESULTS
Twenty-five percent of the patients were BC or HU. Thirty-one percent of the HU had unspecified vertigo/falling tendency compared to 2% in the CG. Sixty-three percent of the HU and 77.7% of the BC were registered in their medical notes as having "no alcohol consumption" or a much lower (50%) consumption than that found by interview.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded, that you get a better estimate of alcohol consumption by asking: "How/when do you use alcohol?" and thereafter calculating the intake.
Petersen
M R
MR
H:S Hvidovre Hospital, alkoholenheden.
Schieby
A
A
Zierau
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D010343:Patient Admission; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires