Alcohol-dependent hospital patients die earlier from multiple morbidities
Key points
- Scientists from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University of Bonn Hospital, together with British colleagues, have discovered that alcohol-dependent hospital patients die from multiple morbidities 7.6 years earlier than patients without a history of alcohol addiction.
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- The researchers used data from various general hospitals in Manchester, UK, finding that the mortality of alcohol dependent patients in general hospitals is many times higher than that of patients without alcohol dependency.
- Investigators involved in the study, published in the journal European Psychiatry, appeal for intensive psychotherapeutic support for people with alcohol addiction to be arranged earlier.
Scientists from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University of Bonn Hospital, together with British colleagues, have discovered that alcohol-dependent hospital patients die from multiple morbidities 7.6 years earlier than patients without a history of alcohol addiction.
The researchers used data from various general hospitals in Manchester, UK, finding that the mortality of alcohol dependent patients in general hospitals is many times higher than that of patients without alcohol dependency.
Investigators involved in the study, published in the journal European Psychiatry, appeal for intensive psychotherapeutic support for people with alcohol addiction to be arranged earlier.
The question that frequents an alcohol addict's mind increasingly focuses on the question "How can I get hold of some alcohol?"
Compulsive drinking often sets a ball rolling that leads to events such as an increase in compulsive drinking behavior, ignoring hobbies and interests, with the affected person tending to deny their addiction, suffer from withdrawal symptoms and the habituation to alcohol consumption increases.
Alcoholism prompts changes in the personality of the alcohol-dependent person that can cause problems at home with family in addition to workplace issues.
"Mental problems as well as significant physical health impairments are associated with alcohol addiction," says Dr. Dieter Schoepf from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University of Bonn Hospital. "Alcoholics who were treated in British general hospitals for health problems die an average of 7.6 years earlier than nonalcohol dependent patients; this is due to the interaction of several concomitant physical illnesses."
Dr. Schoepf and Prof. Reinhard Heun from the Royal Derby Hospital in England evaluated patient data from seven general hospitals in Manchester.
The study is a long-term observational study. The data from the general hospitals extends over a 12.5-year period, providing information to be analyzed of comorbid physical illnesses of 23,371 hospital patients with alcohol dependence.
These alcohol-dependent patients were compared with a control group of 233,710 randomly selected patients without alcoholism.
Prof. Heun summarizes, "During the observation period, approximately 1 out of 5 hospital patients with alcoholism died in one of the hospitals, while only 1 out of 12 patients in the control group died."
A total of 27 physical illnesses occur more often in patients with alcohol addiction
Surprising results from the study include evidence that a total of 27 physical illnesses occur more frequently in patients with alcohol addiction including conditions of the:
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
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