title: Epidemiology of hospitalization due to alcohol-related harm: evidence from a Scottish cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine a broad range of risk factors and their association with alcohol-related hospital admissions in a Scottish general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational record-linkage study in Scotland from 1998 to 2008 involving 8305 respondents aged 16-74 years who participated in the 1998 Scottish Health Survey. Outcome was defined as first-time hospital admission with at least one alcohol-related diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cox proportional hazards modelling was applied to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of first-time hospitalization with an alcohol-related condition associated with a range of behavioural, social and biological risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 287 (3.4%) respondents experienced at least one alcohol-related hospitalization during the observation period. Moderate to excessive drinking was the strongest predictor of subsequent admission to hospital with an alcohol-related diagnosis, with clear evidence of a dose - response relationship. Moderate and heavy smoking were also significant predictors of subsequent admission to hospital with an alcohol-related problem. Social factors - such as being in receipt of income-related benefits [HR 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.28]; being retired or economically inactive; and being separated, divorced or widowed (HR 2.34, 95% CI 1.70-3.22) - were also significant predictors of alcohol-related hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate and higher levels of weekly alcohol consumption, moderate to heavy smoking, economic circumstances and marital status are the main risk factors for alcohol-related hospitalization in the Scottish population. These findings add to the evidence that population-based strategies are needed to limit alcohol-related morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Public Health Observatory, National Services Scotland, Gyle Square, Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lawder
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Storey
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whyte
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hanlon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult