Alcohol misuse and outpatient follow-up after hospital discharge: a retrospective cohort study

In a recent publication, Bryan Borg and other researchers analyzed if people with problems due to drinking alcohol received adequate outpatient follow-up after hospital discharge and if this services differed in patients with a critical illness.

Their results show that less than half of patients at moderate to high risk of hospital readmission saw any outpatient provider in the 30 days after hospital discharge. Patients with a critical illness without problems due to drinking alcohol had significantly higher rates of follow-up, and patients with problems due to drinking alcohol consistently had lower rates of outpatient follow-up regardless of whether they experienced a critical illness.

Based on this research, it is critical to continue supporting the ongoing efforts to improve care for people with problems due to drinking alcohol, to reduce readmissions, decrease healthcare costs, and improve outcomes.