Prediction of the Development of Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium.
- Author:
Choong Heon LEE
1
;
Eun LEE
;
Sung Hyouk PARK
;
Seung Yong JUNG
;
Sang Jin PARK
;
Jeong Ho SOEK
;
Kee NAMKOONG
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. keen@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Alcohol withdrawal delirium;
Risk factor
- MeSH:
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium*;
Alcoholism;
Bilirubin;
Delirium;
gamma-Glutamyltransferase;
Hematocrit;
Humans;
Logistic Models;
Mortality;
Platelet Count;
Potassium;
Retrospective Studies;
Risk Factors
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2004;43(5):559-563
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: Alcohol withdrawal delirium is a serious clinical condition with high mortality rate if not treated. This study was to examine whether readily available clinical variables can predict the development of alcohol withdrawal delirium. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective study by reviewing charts of 566 patients who had been admitted for alcohol dependence. The cases were divided into two groups: delirium group (n=40) and control group (n=40). We compared baseline characteristics and serum analysis data at admission between two groups. We used logistic regression to predict risk factors for alcohol withdrawal delirium among potential risk factors. RESULTS: The delirium group had significantly lower hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet counts, and potassium level than countrol group. Presence of previous withdrawal delirium history, AST, GGTP, and bilirubin level of delirium group were significantly higher than those of control group. Among potential risk factors, past history of withdrawal delirium, decreased hemoglobin, elevated bilirubin level, and number of previous detoxification were predictable factors of the development of alcohol withdrawal delirium by 72.5%. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the infomation obtained at admission can be useful to predict the development of alcohol withdrawal delirium. Also, it makes the individualization of detoxification strategies possible.
