Alcohol Consumption for People Admitted in French Emergency Departments: A Protocol for a Multi-Center Cluster Trial

International audienceBackground: According to a 2014 report by the World Health Organization, the highest alcohol consumption levels per capita continue to be found in the developed world, particularly in the European region. Drinking alcohol does not only lead to alcohol dependence; it also be linked to a higher risk for acute medical and surgical events. In France, recent data show that alcohol consumption levels in the general population are important and have remained relatively stable since 2010. In the Emergency Department population, few French data are available, while studies conducted across the Atlantic show that patients admitted into emergency rooms are reported to have high levels of alcohol consumption. Emergency Departments are an important location for the identification and early intervention of issues related to alcohol consumption. Therefore, the aim of this study is to carry out an epidemiological picture of alcohol consumption and search for indicators of harmful alcohol use in patients in the French emergency rooms of the Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne interregion. Methods and Analysis: This observational, and descriptive and randomized clinical study on human beings will consists of a collection of clinical variables on all patients that will be admitted to the Emergency Departments of the RAA Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne interregion aged of (16 years or older) and who will be agree to participate to the study. It will include one visit where the patient will respond to three auto-administrating screening tests on his or her alcohol consumption: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – C (AUDIT C), Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener test (CAGE) and the Rapid Alcohol Problems Screen – Quantity Frequency test (RAPS4 – QF). Similarly, they will answer two self-administering questionnaires on socio-demographic and emergency data

Comparison between the WHO and NIAAA criteria for binge drinking on drinking features and alcohol-related aftermaths: Results from a cross-sectional study among eight emergency wards in France

International audienc

Could reasons for admission help to screen unhealthy alcohol use in emergency departments ? A multicenter French study

International audienceBackground Many patients admitted to general emergency departments (EDs) have a pattern of drinking that could lead to future alcohol-related complications. However, it is often difficult to screen these patients in the context of emergency. The aim of this study is to analyze whether reasons for admission could help to screen patients who have an unhealthy alcohol use. Method Patients were recruited among six public hospital ED in France, between 2012 and 2014. During a one-month period in each hospital, anonymous questionnaires including sociodemographic questions, AUDIT-C and RAPS4-QF were administered to each patients visiting the ED. The reason for admission of each patient was noted at the end of their questionnaire by the ED practitioner. Results Ten thousand Four hundred twenty-one patients were included in the analysis. Patients who came to the ED for injuries and mental disorders were more likely to report unhealthy alcohol use than non-harmful use or no use. Among male patients under 65 years old admitted to the ED for a mental disorder, 24.2% drank more than four drinks (40 g ethanol) in typical day at least four time a week in the last 12 months. Among these patients, 79.7% reported daily or almost daily heavy episodic drinking (HED, 60 g ethanol), and all were positive on the RAPS4-QF. Conclusion This study highlights that unhealthy alcohol use is frequent among ED patients and particularly among those who come for injuries or mental disorders. Men under 65 years old with a mental disorder require special attention because of their increased prevalence of daily or almost daily HED