title: Concurrent alcohol and medication poisoning hospital admissions among older rural and urban residents.
abstract: Alcohol and medication interactions are projected to increase due to the growth of older adults that are unsafely consuming alcohol and medications. Plus, aging adults who reside in rural areas are at the highest risk of experiencing medication interactions.
  
  
  
  Estimate concurrent alcohol and medication (alcohol/medication) hospitalizations in adults 50+ years, comparing age groups and rural/urban regions.
  
  
  
  Kentucky nonfederal, acute care inpatient hospital discharge electronic records for individuals aged 50+ years from 2001 to 2012 were examined. Rate differences were estimated across age and regional strata. Differences in the underlying principal diagnosis, intent, and medications were also examined.
  
  
  
  There were 2168 concurrent alcohol/medication hospitalizations among 50+ year olds identified. There was a 187% increase in alcohol/medication hospitalizations from 2001 (n = 104) to 2012 (n = 299). The per capita alcohol/medication hospitalization rate increased from 8.91 (per 100,000) in 2001 to 19.98 (per 100,000) in 2012, a 124% increase. The characteristics of the hospitalizations included 75% principal diagnosis as medication poisoning, self-harm as the primary intent (55%) in 50-64-year olds, and unintentional intent (41%) in 65+ adults. Benzodiazepines were most often involved in the poisonings (36.5%).
  
  
  
  Concurrent alcohol/medication hospitalizations in Kentucky are increasing among aging adults. Greater increases in rural areas and the 65+ aged adults were seen, although there were also higher alcohol/medication hospitalizations in urban and 50-64 aged adults. These findings indicate the need for public-health prevention and clinical intervention to better educate and manage alcohol consuming older adults on safe medication and alcohol practices.
authors.affiliation: a Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health , University of Maryland , College Park , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Faika
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanjani
authors.affiliation: b Epidemiology , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: c Biostatistics , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA.
authors.forename: Svetla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Slavova
authors.affiliation: c Biostatistics , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Charnigo
authors.affiliation: d Behavioral Science , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schoenberg
authors.affiliation: e Psychiatry , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: f Health Behavior , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clayton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Aging; alcohol; medication safety; mental health; substance misuse