Alcohol-Related Hospital Encounters Trigger Thrombotic and Hemorrhagic Vascular Events

Abstract Background and Purpose We investigated the associations between alcohol-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations and vascular events including acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods The New York State Inpatient and Emergency Department Databases were examined (2006-2013). Validated International Classification of Diseases 9th edition definitions identified index vascular hospitalizations and alcohol abuse encounters. We used case cross-over analysis with conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) for the association between alcohol-related encounters during 6 case periods (7, 14, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days before index event) compared to control periods (1 year before). Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between an alcohol-related encounter within 6 months before index admission and 30-day readmission after discharge. Results An alcohol encounter before index admission was associated with acute ischemic stroke (OR = 1.765 within 60 days, 1.418 within 90 days, and 1.287 within 120 days) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR = 2.375 within 90 days), but not ICH. Alcohol-related encounters within 6 months before index vascular events increased the likelihood of 30-day readmission after index admission. Conclusion We found that a recent alcohol-related counter was associated with occurrence of vascular events, but not ICH, as well as worse outcomes after index admission.