Unhealthy alcohol use in older adults: Association with readmissions and emergency department use in the 30 days after hospital discharge.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unhealthy alcohol use could impair recovery of older patients after medical or surgical hospitalizations. However, no prior research has evaluated whether older patients who screen positive for unhealthy alcohol use are at increased risk of readmissions or emergency department (ED) visits within 30 days after discharge. This study examined the association between AUDIT-C alcohol screening results and 30-day readmissions or ED visits.

Methods

Veterans Affairs (VA) patients age 65 years or older, were eligible if they were hospitalized for a medical or surgical condition (2/1/2009-10/1/2011) and had an AUDIT-C score documented in their VA electronic medical record in the year before they were hospitalized. VA and Medicare data identified VA or non-VA index hospitali

SUBMITTER: Chavez LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4749399 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature