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The relationship between mortality and intensity of inpatient alcoholism treatment.

J Y Bunn, B M Booth, C A Cook, F C Blow and J C Fortney

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa.

OBJECTIVES. Previous studies have examined mortality in alcoholics receiving extended inpatient alcoholism treatment, but few have investigated less intense treatment. This study examined mortality within 3 years after discharge from varying intensities of inpatient alcoholism treatment. METHODS. Using the computerized database of the Department of Veterans Affairs, we identified men participating in varying intensities of inpatient alcoholism treatment and followed them for 3 years after discharge. Adjusted mortality rates were computed and survival analysis was performed to assess the risk of death, adjusting for factors that may be related to mortality. RESULTS. The death rate was lower for men who completed extended formal inpatient treatment than for those who began, but did not complete, inpatient treatment or those who underwent short detoxification. Differences among the treatment groups remained after age, race, marital status, and disease severity were controlled. CONCLUSIONS. These results suggest that extended formal inpatient alcoholism treatment is associated with a lower risk of death than less intense forms of inpatient treatment.