8 to 14 weekly units of alcohol boosts
overall tally of days spent in hospital
Drinking between 8 and 14 units of alcohol a week boosts the total number of days spent in hospital, researchers find
Twenty one weekly units is the government’s recommended maximum weekly tally of alcohol for men.
A new study found that men drinking over 22 units a week had a 20% higher rate of admissions into acute care hospitals than non-drinkers. But relatively low levels of alcohol consumption gave rise to a higher number of bed days. Drinkers of eight or more weekly units spent longer in hospital than non-drinkers, with length of stay progressively increasing, the higher the weekly consumption. Those drinking the most chalked up a 58% higher use of beds. The number of admissions for stroke, and more time spent in hospital as a result, started with a weekly tally of 15 units, and progressively increased the more weekly units were consumed.
Those drinking 22 or more weekly units had more admissions for respiratory illness, but they had the lowest rates of admission for coronary heart disease. Non-drinkers had the highest rates of admission for this. Men drinking 22 or more units a week had more admissions for mental health problems. But non-drinkers had a higher rate of admissions for mental ill health than those who drank between 1 and 14 units a week.
The authors conclude that alcohol has a “notable effect” on health service use and therefore, overall costs to the NHS.
| Alcohol consumption and use of acute and mental health hospital services in the West of Scotland Collaborative prospective cohort study
J Epidemiol Community doi 10.1136/ |