Factors predictive of alcohol abstention after resident detoxication among alcoholics followed in an hospital outpatient center.
OBJECTIVE
A cohort of patient hospitalized for alcohol detoxification between January 2004 and January 2005 were followed prospectively to search for factors predictive factors of sustained abstinence.


METHODS
One hundred and fifteen patients (79 males, 36 females, median age 45.9+/-10.7 years), were hospitalized for alcohol detoxification. Demographic, social, and medical data including daily alcohol intake and co-addictions were noted at inclusion and six months later. Patients who did not attend their six-month visit were contacted by phone.


RESULTS
Among the 115 included patients, six month follow-up data could be collected for 73. Abstinence rate was 54.8%. Factors predictive of unsuccessful cessation were homelessness (P=0.004), duration of alcohol consumption (P=0.004), smoking (P=0.02), drug substitution (P=0.04) and multiple addictions (P=0.04). At multivariate analysis, multiple addictions was the only independent factor predictive of unsuccessful detoxification. Naltrexone or acamprosate treatments were not associated with a better rate of alcohol detoxification.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient follow-up is problematic due to the large number of dropouts among alcoholics. Early screening in search for factors predictive of unsuccessful detoxification (long duration of alcohol consumption, multiple addiction) would be helpful in elaborating appropriate pluridisciplinary management.
Gelsi
Eve
E
Fédération d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Nutrition Clinique; Hôpital l'Archet II, 151 route Saint-Antoine de Ginestière, 06202 Nice. gelsi.e@chu-nice.fr
Vanbiervliet
Geoffroy
G
Chérikh
Faredj
F
Mariné-Barjoan
Eugénia
E
Truchi
Régine
R
Arab
Kamel
K
Delmont
Jean-Marie
JM
Tran
Albert
A
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013695:Temperance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*