AUDIT-C Alcohol Screening Results and Postoperative Inpatient Health Care Use.
Author
Summary, in English
BACKGROUND: Alcohol screening scores 5 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption
(AUDIT-C) up to a year before surgery have been associated with postoperative complications,
but the association with postoperative health care use is unknown. This study evaluated whether
AUDIT-C scores in the year before surgery were associated with postoperative hospital length of
stay, total ICU days, return to the operating room, and hospital readmission.
STUDY DESIGN: This cohort study included male Veterans Affairs patients who completed the AUDIT-C on
mailed surveys (October 2003 through September 2006) and were hospitalized for nonemergent noncardiac major operations in the following year. Postoperative health care use was
evaluated across 4 AUDIT-C risk groups (scores 0, 1 to 4, 5 to 8, and 9 to 12) using linear or
logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographics, smoking status, surgical category,
relative value unit, and time from AUDIT-C to surgery. Patients with AUDIT-C scores indicating low-risk drinking (scores 1 to 4) were the referent group.
RESULTS: Adjusted analyses revealed that among eligible surgical patients (n 5,171), those with the
highest AUDIT-C scores (ie, 9 to 12) had longer postoperative hospital length of stay (5.8 [95%
CI, 5.06.7] vs 5.0 [95% CI, 4.75.3] days), more ICU days (4.5 [95% CI, 3.25.8] vs 2.8
[95% CI, 2.63.1] days), and increased probability of return to the operating room (10%
[95% CI, 613%] vs 5% [95% CI, 46%]) in the 30 days after surgery, but not increased
hospital readmission within 30 days postdischarge, relative to the low-risk group.
CONCLUSIONS: AUDIT-C screening results could be used to identify patients at risk for increased postoperative
health care use who might benefit from preoperative alcohol interventions.
(AUDIT-C) up to a year before surgery have been associated with postoperative complications,
but the association with postoperative health care use is unknown. This study evaluated whether
AUDIT-C scores in the year before surgery were associated with postoperative hospital length of
stay, total ICU days, return to the operating room, and hospital readmission.
STUDY DESIGN: This cohort study included male Veterans Affairs patients who completed the AUDIT-C on
mailed surveys (October 2003 through September 2006) and were hospitalized for nonemergent noncardiac major operations in the following year. Postoperative health care use was
evaluated across 4 AUDIT-C risk groups (scores 0, 1 to 4, 5 to 8, and 9 to 12) using linear or
logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographics, smoking status, surgical category,
relative value unit, and time from AUDIT-C to surgery. Patients with AUDIT-C scores indicating low-risk drinking (scores 1 to 4) were the referent group.
RESULTS: Adjusted analyses revealed that among eligible surgical patients (n 5,171), those with the
highest AUDIT-C scores (ie, 9 to 12) had longer postoperative hospital length of stay (5.8 [95%
CI, 5.06.7] vs 5.0 [95% CI, 4.75.3] days), more ICU days (4.5 [95% CI, 3.25.8] vs 2.8
[95% CI, 2.63.1] days), and increased probability of return to the operating room (10%
[95% CI, 613%] vs 5% [95% CI, 46%]) in the 30 days after surgery, but not increased
hospital readmission within 30 days postdischarge, relative to the low-risk group.
CONCLUSIONS: AUDIT-C screening results could be used to identify patients at risk for increased postoperative
health care use who might benefit from preoperative alcohol interventions.
Department/s
Publishing year
2012
Language
English
Pages
296-305
Publication/Series
Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Volume
214
Issue
3
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Health Sciences
Status
Published
Research group
- Clinical Alcohol Research
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1879-1190