The influence of the COVID-19 epidemic on hospitalizations due to alcohol consumption

• Published in: European psychiatry Vol. 64; no. S1; p. S567
• Main Authors: Rădulescu, I.D., Terpan, M., Ciubară, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Cambridge University Press 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Abstract; Acut Intoxication; Addictive disorders; Alchohol; Alcohol; Alcohol use; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; E-Poster Presentation; Hospitalization; pandemic; Pandemics
• ISSN: 0924-9338; 1778-3585
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1512

Introduction Excessive alcohol consumption is an ever-topical issue regardless of social or medical problems (pandemic). In these conditions (global medical crisis),to the problem of alcohol consumption has been added a new dimension. Objectives The main purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitalizations diagnosed with acute intoxication in the hospital. In Romania, the measures due to the pandemic were instituted starting with March 15 2020. Methods The study was performed retrospectively between 01.01.2020 - 30.09.2020 in the Psychiatric Hospital ‘Elisabeta Doamna’ Galati. ICD-10 criteria were used to establish the diagnosis of the disorder. Results In total, 458 cases were admitted during the period mentioned, of which 401 were male (87.56%), female 57 cases (12.44%). The average age of patients was 45.67 years ± 0.695, with minimum age of 19 years and maximum age of 93 years. The month with the most admissions was January with 80 (17.46%) March by 79 (17.25 %). The months with the fewest hospitalizations were April with 27 cases (5.89%) and July with 35 cases (7.64%). Conclusions The analysis of the data shows that as measures specific to the epidemic crisis were instituted, the number of hospitalizations decreased significantly by about 3 times.