Association of self-reported alcohol use and hospitalization for an alcohol-related cause in Scotland: a record-linkage study of 23 183 individuals

Investigates the extent to which self-reported alcohol consumption level in the Scottish population is associated with first-time hospital admission for an alcohol-related cause. Design Observational record-linkage study. A total of 23 183 respondents aged 16 and over who participated in the 1995, 1998 and 2003 Scottish Health Surveys, followed-up via record-linkage from interview date until 30 September 2005. Measurements Rate of first-time hospital admission with at least one alcohol-related diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was applied to estimate the relative risk of first-time hospitalization with an alcohol-related condition associated with usual alcohol consumption level (1-7, 8-14, 15-21, 22-35, 36-49, 50+ units/week and ex-drinker, compared with <1 unit per week). Findings Of the SHS participants, 527 were hospitalized for an alcohol-related cause during 135 313 person-years of follow-up [39 first admissions per 10 000 personyears, 95% confidence interval (CI) 36-42]. Alcohol-related hospitalization rates were considerably higher for males (61/10 000 person-years, 95% CI 54-67) than for females (22/10 000 person-years, 95% CI 18-26). Compared with the lowest alcohol consumption category (