Sri Lanka Journal of Medicine (Jun 2018)

Alcohol use disorders and associated factors among patients admitted to medical units, at Teaching Hospital Kandy

  • Rakhitha Laknath Welagedara,
  • R. M. S. K. Rathnayake,
  • B. M. D. B. Basnayake,
  • P. Jayawardena,
  • J. G. K. K. Jayasinghe,
  • K. G. G. S. Ranasinghe,
  • A. S. B. Ekanayake,
  • T. Kannangara

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4038/sljm.v27i1.75
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 1
pp. 27 – 36

Abstract

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Background: Alcohol is an organic substance which is known to produce dependence. The burden and mortality related to alcohol use and related illnesses have a significant psycho-social and economic impact in most of the countries. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence, describe the patterns of alcohol use disorders and risk factors among patients admitted to the medical units of Teaching Hospital Kandy for a period of one year from December 2016 to November 2017. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in the medical wards of Teaching Hospital Kandy for a period of one year from December 2016 to November 2017. A total of 386 participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. An interviewer administered, structured questionnaire and a screening tool, namely the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were used to collect data. Results: The prevalence of alcohol consumption in the sample was 67.6% (N=261). All were consuming arrack. According to the alcohol consumption score, a majority of the alcohol consumers (n=183:70.1%) were in the low risk level (p<0.001). According to the dependence score a majority (n=213:81.6%) were included into the “no alcohol dependence level”. But when the problematic score was considered, a majority of the participants were included in to the problematic use of alcohol category (n=156, 59.8%). Being older than 50 years of age (OR=2.326:95%CI=1.349-4.011) and being married (OR=5.31:95%CI=1.371-20.574) were associated with a higher alcohol consumption score. Alcohol dependence was higher among participants with a low monthly income (OR=3.075:95%CI=1.575 - 6.003). Conclusions: The prevalence of alcohol use among patients admitted to medical wards of Teaching Hospital Kandy is high. Among patients with medical disorders who consumed alcohol, in many the alcohol intake was at a problematic level. Considering the total AUDIT score, most of the patients were in the hazardous, harmful or high risk groups, which need special attention to minimize the risks of alcohol related problems in the future. Therefore specific management strategies combined with psychiatric and medical treatment programmes should be planned in the future.

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