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Medications for alcohol-use disorder and follow-up after hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal: A multicenter study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Allaudeen, N; Akwe, J; Arundel, C; Boggan, JC; Caldwell, P; Cornia, PB; Cyr, J; Ehlers, E; Elzweig, J; Godwin, P; Gordon, KS; Guidry, M ...
Published in: J Hosp Med
December 2024

BACKGROUND: Alcohol withdrawal is a common reason for admission to acute care hospitals. Prescription of medications for alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and close outpatient follow-up are commonly recommended, but few studies report their effects on postdischarge outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of medications for AUD and follow-up appointments on readmission and abstinence. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated veterans admitted for alcohol withdrawal to medical services at 19 Veteran Health Administration hospitals between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019. Factors associated with all-cause 30-day readmission and 6-month abstinence were examined using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 594 patients included in this study, 296 (50.7%) were prescribed medications for AUD at discharge and 459 (78.5%) were discharged with follow-up appointments, including 251 (42.8%) with a substance-use clinic appointment, 191 (32.9%) with a substance-use program appointment, and 73 (12.5%) discharged to a residential program. All-cause 30-day readmission occurred for 150 patients (25.5%) and 103 (17.8%) remained abstinent at 6 months. Medications for AUD and outpatient discharge appointments were not associated with readmission or abstinence. Discharge to residential treatment program was associated with reduced 30-day readmission (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.39, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.18-0.82) and improved abstinence (AOR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.33-4.73). CONCLUSIONS: Readmission and return to heavy drinking are common for patients discharged for alcohol withdrawal. Medications for AUD were not associated with improved outcomes. The only intervention at the time of discharge that improved outcomes was discharge to residential treatment program, which was associated with decreased readmission and improved abstinence.

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Published In

J Hosp Med

DOI

EISSN

1553-5606

Publication Date

December 2024

Volume

19

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1122 / 1130

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Patient Readmission
  • Patient Discharge
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hospitalization
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Allaudeen, N., Akwe, J., Arundel, C., Boggan, J. C., Caldwell, P., Cornia, P. B., … Gunderson, C. G. (2024). Medications for alcohol-use disorder and follow-up after hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal: A multicenter study. J Hosp Med, 19(12), 1122–1130. https://doi.org/10.1002/jhm.13458
Allaudeen, Nazima, Joyce Akwe, Cherinne Arundel, Joel C. Boggan, Peter Caldwell, Paul B. Cornia, Jessica Cyr, et al. “Medications for alcohol-use disorder and follow-up after hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal: A multicenter study.J Hosp Med 19, no. 12 (December 2024): 1122–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/jhm.13458.
Allaudeen N, Akwe J, Arundel C, Boggan JC, Caldwell P, Cornia PB, et al. Medications for alcohol-use disorder and follow-up after hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal: A multicenter study. J Hosp Med. 2024 Dec;19(12):1122–30.
Allaudeen, Nazima, et al. “Medications for alcohol-use disorder and follow-up after hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal: A multicenter study.J Hosp Med, vol. 19, no. 12, Dec. 2024, pp. 1122–30. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/jhm.13458.
Allaudeen N, Akwe J, Arundel C, Boggan JC, Caldwell P, Cornia PB, Cyr J, Ehlers E, Elzweig J, Godwin P, Gordon KS, Guidry M, Gutierrez J, Heppe D, Hoegh M, Jagannath A, Kaboli P, Krug M, Laudate JD, Mitchell C, Pescetto M, Rodwin BA, Ronan M, Rose R, Shah MN, Smeraglio A, Trubitt M, Tuck M, Vargas J, Yarbrough P, Gunderson CG. Medications for alcohol-use disorder and follow-up after hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal: A multicenter study. J Hosp Med. 2024 Dec;19(12):1122–1130.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Hosp Med

DOI

EISSN

1553-5606

Publication Date

December 2024

Volume

19

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1122 / 1130

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Patient Readmission
  • Patient Discharge
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hospitalization