Characterization of the alcohol consumption pattern of patients admitted to a hospitalization unit.

Objectives: To determine the pattern of alcohol consumption, the sociodemographic, habit and clinical profile of the patients admitted and to explore the usefulness of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire for detecting alcohol consumption in the Digestive Unit of the Juan Ramón Jiménez University Hospital (HUJRJ) of Huelva.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational analytical quantitative study. A total of 150 participants were recruited.

Results: According to AUDIT, 36% of the patients had a low-risk profile, 17.3% of the patients had risky consumption and 8.6% had harmful consumption or were possibly dependent. 28% reported never consuming alcohol and 10% were confirmed ex-consumers. There was a significant association (p < 0.01) between the pattern of alcohol consumption and the variables employment status, smoking, use of other drugs and diagnosis at discharge. The variables age (p 0.015), sex (p 0.011) and number of diagnostic tests during admission (p 0.025) were not significant. A significant difference (p < 0.01) was observed between men and women with a risky consumption profile in the work situation variable. Of the risk consumers, 23.1% had alcoholic liver disease.

Conclusions: Stratification of patients admitted to the HUJRJ according to alcohol consumption through AUDIT has revealed different sociodemographic, habit and clinical profiles. The detection of the pattern of alcohol consumption in Specialized Care by nurses could improve the care strategy for these patients.