TO ANALYZE THE SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES AMONG THE ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DELIRIUM TREMENS

Abstract

Alcohol is a direct cause of several acute and chronic diseases as classified under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), and it contributes to the development of numerous other conditions, including various cancers, cardiovascular issues, liver disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the socio-demographic differences between patients experiencing delirium tremens and those who do not, within the population undergoing alcohol withdrawal.
A prospective, cross-sectional observational study was carried out to assess the prevalence of delirium tremens (DT) among 300 patients diagnosed with alcohol withdrawal syndrome. These patients were admitted to the Department of Psychiatry and De-addiction Center, based on alcohol withdrawal criteria outlined in the ICD-10.
A statistically significant difference was observed between alcohol withdrawal patients with delirium tremens and those without across several socio-demographic variables. These included mean age, religion, occupation, type of family, household income, duration of alcohol dependence, mean age at the onset of dependence, reasons for initiating alcohol use, average daily alcohol consumption, distribution based on quantity consumed per day, and the type of alcohol consumed, all showing significance at p< 0.0001. Additionally, the age at first alcohol use and the mean age of first drink were also significantly different between the groups, with p<0.005.
In this study, certain socio-demographic factors were associated with an increased risk of developing delirium tremens (DT). These included being male and aged 44 years or older. Individuals who began drinking at an early age, consumed larger quantities of alcohol, and had a longer history of alcohol dependence were more likely to experience DT compared to those without the condition.