Acute alcohol intoxication across different age groups in 2014–2018: Prehospital care and biochemical correlates at a large University Hospital in southern Italy

Background: Risky alcohol consumption can occur from a young age and affects people of all age groups, sometimes requiring the intervention of the emergency medical services. Objectives: Determining the timing and characteristics of emergency calls (to the “118” emergency number) relating to subjects in all age groups, in which alcohol was a contributing factor, along with the biochemical correlates, in a great metropolitan area. On the basis of these, future interventions would target specific training for nurses and paramedics working in emergency medical services. Method: An observational single-centre retrospective study carried out from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018 involving patients requiring emergency care and attending the Emergency Department of an University Hospital. Results: Out of a total of 47,252 emergency calls, 2.22% were for alcohol-related conditions and mainly involved male patients (78.4%). A high incidence of alcoholic coma was found in patients aged 11 to 17 years. Emergency medical assistance was required mainly at night on weekdays by patients aged 11–17, 25–44 years and during the weekend and on weekdays by patients aged 18–24 years. A blood alcohol concentration higher than 50 mg/dL was found in more than 67% of patients aged 11–17 and 18–24 years at weekends. Conclusions: The most alarming finding from our data is that, despite prevention policies, young people requiring emergency medical assistance showed similar alcohol levels as adults and a high incidence of alcoholic coma.