The effect of excess alcohol consumption on clinical outcomes in regional patients with chronic disease: a retrospective chart audit

Mudd, Julie, Larkins, Sarah, and Watt, Kerrianne (2020) The effect of excess alcohol consumption on clinical outcomes in regional patients with chronic disease: a retrospective chart audit. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 44 (6). pp. 451-456.

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Abstract

Objective

To better understand the impact of alcohol consumption on the clinical management of chronic diseases in a regional general practice setting.

Methods

A retrospective chart audit was undertaken of individual patient records at two large group general practices in Townsville, a regional Australian city. Three common indicator chronic diseases were selected that have clear management guidelines for general practice: type 2 diabetes; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and chronic kidney disease. The audits were analysed using SPSS software to examine the association between alcohol consumption on acquisition of clinical management targets and primary disease intermediate outcomes (haemoglobin A1c fraction; per cent of normal forced expiratory volume at one second; and estimated glomerular filtration rate).

Results

A total of 457 records were audited. Higher‐risk alcohol consumption is associated with reduced ability of patients to reach management targets (F[3,453]=3.68; p=0.012) and decreased standardised primary disease outcome (F[3,403]=2.86; p=0.037).

Conclusion

Higher‐risk alcohol consumption is associated with reduced attainment of chronic disease management targets and worse chronic disease outcomes.

Implications for public health

Alcohol consumption should be assessed frequently in people with chronic disease, especially when there is difficulty acquiring management targets or worsening of disease outcomes without a clear explanation. Better education about the potential associations between alcohol use and chronic disease would benefit those managing these complex conditions, both clinicians and patients.

Item ID: 66244
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1753-6405
Keywords: Chronic disease; Alcohol; Healthcare provision; Clinical managment
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Copyright Information: © 2020 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Additional Information:

A version of this publication was included as Chapter 5 of the following PhD thesis: Mudd, Julie (2020) An investigation of the effects of alcohol on chronic disease management in a regional setting. PhD thesis, James Cook University, which is available Open Access in ResearchOnline@JCU. Please see the Related URLs for access.

Date Deposited: 24 Feb 2021 01:25
FoR Codes: 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420319 Primary health care @ 100%
SEO Codes: 20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200413 Substance abuse @ 50%
20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200407 Health status (incl. wellbeing) @ 50%
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