title: [Comparison between alcoholic patients and primary care patients for the use of the ambulance].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Though heavy drinkers and patients with alcohol dependence make use of the ambulance more frequently as compared with the general population, there are few data on the alcohol-related use of the emergency department (ED) in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted. 170 patients with alcohol dependence in one clinic and 306 primary care patients across two clinics provided demographic data and answered some questions about the use of emergency ambulance services over the age of 20. The questions asked included whether use of the ambulance caused injuries, as well as AUDIT-C (primary care patients only). In this study, multiple logistic regression analysis was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of emergency ambulance services by patients with alcohol dependence was 4.68 times more than primary care patients, and the occurrence of ambulance-caused injuries was 6.03 times higher, as determined by multiple logistic regression. Among primary care patients, AUDIT-C positive patients (male; 5 points or more, female; 3 points or more) were 37 (12.2%), and the occurrence of ambulance-caused injuries was 3.32 times higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Like with other countries, in Japan, heavy drinkers and patients with alcohol dependence lead to a significant increase in the use of emergency ambulance services as well as ambulance-caused injuries.
authors.affiliation: Kasumigaura Clinic, 13-17, Hatta, Yokkaichi-city, Mie 510-0001, Japan. aroino@za.ztv.ne.jp
authors.forename: Aro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ino
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine & Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu-city, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.affiliation: Mizutani Clinic, 1107-2, Yamajo-cho, Yokkaichi-city, Mie 512-8048 Japan.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.affiliation: Akozu Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine Clinic, 1274-3, Akamizu-cho, Yokkaichi-city, Mie 512-1204, Japan.
authors.forename: Naohisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Kasumigaura Clinic, 13-17, Hatta, Yokkaichi-city, Mie 510-0001, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirohuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine & Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174, Edobashi, Tsu-city, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Yousuke C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Takemura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057229:Alcoholics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000552:Ambulances; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged