Alcohol and delirium tremens: effects of average number of drinks per day and beverage type

TY - JOUR

T1 - Alcohol and delirium tremens

T2 - effects of average number of drinks per day and beverage type

AU - Sørensen, Holger J

AU - Holst, Charlotte

AU - Knop, Joachim

AU - Mortensen, Erik L

AU - Tolstrup, Janne S

AU - Becker, Ulrik

N1 - This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PY - 2019/6

Y1 - 2019/6

N2 - Objective: Associations of amount of alcohol intake and beverage type with the risk of delirium tremens (DT) have not been studied. This longitudinal study investigated if the average number of drinks per day and beverage type predict DT. Methods: A cohort of 3 582 alcohol-dependent men and women aged 19–82 without previous DT were interviewed about alcohol intake and beverage type at baseline in 1994–2005 and followed through record linkage in Danish nationwide registers to identify incident DT. Data were analyzed by means of Cox regression models. Results: An average number of drinks per day of 20–30 or >30 was associated with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.38 (95% CI 1.03–1.84) and 1.64 (95% CI 1.19–2.27) relative to the reference category (1–9 drinks). Independently of amount consumed and covariates (age, gender, civil status and work status), beverage type (spirits vs. mixed alcohol) was associated with a HR of 1.63 (95% CI 1.08–2.46). Male gender was robustly associated with increased risk (HR = 1.62 (95% CI 1.25–2.08). Conclusions: In alcohol-dependent men and women, daily alcohol intake above a threshold of 20 beverages or 240 g alcohol and a preference for spirits increase the risk of developing DT.

AB - Objective: Associations of amount of alcohol intake and beverage type with the risk of delirium tremens (DT) have not been studied. This longitudinal study investigated if the average number of drinks per day and beverage type predict DT. Methods: A cohort of 3 582 alcohol-dependent men and women aged 19–82 without previous DT were interviewed about alcohol intake and beverage type at baseline in 1994–2005 and followed through record linkage in Danish nationwide registers to identify incident DT. Data were analyzed by means of Cox regression models. Results: An average number of drinks per day of 20–30 or >30 was associated with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.38 (95% CI 1.03–1.84) and 1.64 (95% CI 1.19–2.27) relative to the reference category (1–9 drinks). Independently of amount consumed and covariates (age, gender, civil status and work status), beverage type (spirits vs. mixed alcohol) was associated with a HR of 1.63 (95% CI 1.08–2.46). Male gender was robustly associated with increased risk (HR = 1.62 (95% CI 1.25–2.08). Conclusions: In alcohol-dependent men and women, daily alcohol intake above a threshold of 20 beverages or 240 g alcohol and a preference for spirits increase the risk of developing DT.

U2 - 10.1111/acps.13006

DO - 10.1111/acps.13006

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30697683

SN - 0001-690X

VL - 139

SP - 518

EP - 525

JO - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

JF - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

IS - 6

ER -