scholarly journals Better drug history taking: an assessment of the DRUGS mnemonic

1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 305-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Hocking ◽  
R Kalyanaraman ◽  
W F Demello
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
Hormone Replacement ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Not Given ◽  
History Taking ◽  
High Alcohol ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Drug History ◽  
Recreational User ◽  
High Alcohol Intake

To improve drug history taking before anaesthesia, we have previously suggested a checklist with the mnemonic DRUGS (Doctor, Recreational, User, Gynaecological, Sensitivities). We have now tested this mnemonic in 1053 patients admitted for surgery, comparing the results with the information obtained in the original clerking. Use of the mnemonic yielded additional information in 621 patients (59%). Drugs which had gone unrecorded in routine clerking were detected in 24% of patients on medication. Of 199 patients with high alcohol intake, this feature had been recorded in only 38 (19%). Unprescribed medicines, being taken by 158, had been noted in only 31 (20%). Of women taking oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, more than two-thirds had not given this information. Sensitivities had been recorded accurately in 100 patients but the mnemonic yielded relevant information in a further 85. On this evidence, use of the simple DRUGS mnemonic improves drug history taking in anaesthetic practice.

Is carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in serum useful for detecting excessive alcohol consumption in hypertensive patients?

1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 2057-2063 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Fagerberg ◽  
S Agewall ◽  
A Berglund ◽  
M Wysocki ◽  
P A Lundberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
High Alcohol ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
Excessive Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hypertensive Patients ◽  
Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin ◽  
Excessive Alcohol ◽  
High Alcohol Intake

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic usefulness of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in serum in a cross-sectional study of 439 treated hypertensive men. We related the results to alcohol intake by questionnaire and to biochemical and hemodynamic measurements known to reflect excessive alcohol consumption. The diagnostic sensitivity and the specificity for high alcohol intake (> or = 24 g/day of ethanol) were 44% and 87%, respectively. The group with reported high alcohol intake (n = 32) was characterized by hemodynamic and biochemical changes typical of alcohol abuse. The corresponding profile for the patients with increased serum CDT concentrations (n = 70) was different in several respects, indicating a considerable number of false-positive tests. We conclude that serum CDT determination had low sensitivity and specificity for excessive alcohol consumption in this group of hypertensive patients. The results illustrate the importance of evaluating new laboratory methods in unselected patient populations before drawing any conclusions about their clinical value.

Dose-dependent suppression of the high alcohol intake of chronically intoxicated rats by Ca-acetyl homotaurinate

Alcohol ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Le Magnen ◽  
G. Tran ◽  
J. Durlach ◽  
C. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
High Alcohol ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
High Alcohol Intake

Acute paraquat poisoning: increased toxicity in one case with high alcohol intake

1998 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Ernouf ◽  
N. Boussa ◽  
A. Legras ◽  
H. Dutertre-Catella
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
High Alcohol ◽  
Paraquat Poisoning ◽  
High Alcohol Intake

Population-attributable risks for modifiable lifestyle factors and breast cancer in New Zealand women.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (26_suppl) ◽  
pp. 15-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
High Alcohol ◽  
Lifestyle Risk Factors ◽  
Lifestyle Risk ◽  
Modifiable Lifestyle Factors ◽  
High Alcohol Intake

15 Background: Breast cancer is an important cause of illness and death in New Zealand women. It is the most commonly registered cancer in women, and the second most common cause of cancer death in women. In 2009, 2,759 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 658 women died from breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer is projected to stabilise in New Zealand, but the actual number of women diagnosed with breast cancer will increase because of the increasing proportion of older people and increasing size of the population. Methods: Estimates of the magnitude of modifiable lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer (relative risks and odds ratios obtained from published epidemiological studies) and the prevalence of exposure in New Zealand were used to calculate the population attributable risk percent (PAR%) for each risk factor. The PAR%s show the relative importance of these risk factors, and give an indication of the potential impact of reducing the prevalence of these lifestyle risk factors on the incidence of breast cancer in New Zealand. Results: Six modifiable lifestyle factors were identified for breast cancer. These were obesity, lack of physical activity, high alcohol intake, oral contraceptive use, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and delayed first birth. The PAR%s for these risk factors ranged from 1% for delayed first birth to 10% for obesity (16% for Maori women and 17% for Pacific women). Conclusions: The most important primary preventive strategies to reduce the risk of breast cancer in New Zealand are promoting lifestyle changes to reduce obesity, promoting regular physical activity (which may in turn reduce the prevalence of obesity), reducing HRT use, and avoiding high alcohol intake. A strategy to promote regular physical activity and reduce obesity could also have other benefits, such as reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Problem based review: Alcohol-use disorders on the Acute Medical Unit

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-106
Author(s):  
Toby Reynolds ◽  
◽  
Fiona Cooke ◽  
Nicholas Murch ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorders ◽  
Medical Setting ◽  
High Alcohol ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Acute Medical Unit ◽  
History Of ◽  
High Index Of Suspicion ◽  
High Alcohol Intake

Alcohol-use disorders including acute intoxication and withdrawal are common in the acute medical setting. Acute physicians should be aware of the indications for inpatient detoxification, and be able to liase with specialist alcohol services in the hospital and in the community to determine those patients for whom community-based detoxification may be beneficial. Additionally, it is important to recognise the benefit of Brief Interventions for higher-risk drinkers who are not yet dependent. For patients with confusion and a possible history of high alcohol intake and malnutrition, acute physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and treat appropriately with parenteral thiamine.

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