Alcohol use disorder in an Israeli general hospital: sociodemographic, ethnic and clinical characteristics.
BACKGROUND
Alcohol consumption in Israel has increased over the last 20 years. Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who present at a hospital enable early intervention.


OBJECTIVE
To examine, for the first time, the characteristics of AUD patients in an Israel general hospital, and whether their alcohol use was documented in their files.


METHODS
A group of 178 consecutive patients referred for psychiatric consultation was compared to a second group of 105 hospitalized patients who were not referred. These two groups were studied to compare risk factors for AUD. Patients in both groups were prospectively interviewed using a CAGE questionnaire, demonstrated as an effective screening instrument for AUD. Patients' files in both groups were examined for documentation of alcohol use.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the prevalence of AUD in the two groups. The groups were then merged since no significant difference in the risk factor effects between the two groups was found. The risk factors for AUD in the final statistical analysis were lower educational status, living alone, being born in the Former Soviet Union and weaker religious observance. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cigarette smoking and substance use were found to be independent risk factors. Soldier status was associated with significant alcohol misuse and AUD (CAGE1-4). Alcohol consumption was documented in the files of AUD patients in 48% of the first group and 21% of the second.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians often neglect to take a history of alcohol consumption. Routine use of the CAGE questionnaire is recommended in Israeli general hospitals. Special attention should be given to PTSD patients and to soldiers.
Department of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, affiliated with Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel. solj@szmc.org.il
Sol
S
Jaworowski
David
D
Raveh
Jean-Louis
JL
Golmard
Cornelius
C
Gropp
Joseph
J
Mergui
D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires