Clinicians perspective Flashcards
How many deaths world wide did alcohol account for in 2012?
5.9%
In the UK what age range and gender is most affected by alcohol related deaths?
males between 55-64 years
How many deaths per 100,000 in the UK were related to alcohol?
14.2
How much does alcohol cost the NHS?
£3.5 bn
How much NHS spending is on alcohol related illness?
12%
How much does the drinks industry generate?
£11.5 bn
What are the medical consequences related to the ICD-10? (5)
- withdrawal
- Brain/NS effects
- CVD
- Liver
- cancer
How many cancers does alcohol account for?
4%
How early can alcohol withdrawal start?
6-8 hours from last drink
How long does mild withdrawal last?
12- 36 hours
What symptoms occur in mild withdrawal? (5)
- fine tremor
- sweating
- anxiety
- raised heart rate and blood pressure
- anorexia and nausea
What symptoms occur in moderate withdrawal? (7)
- coarse tremor
- shaking
- agitation
- disorientation
- confusion
- seizures
- hallucinations
How long does moderate withdrawal last?
12 hrs - 5 days
How long does severe withdrawal last?
12 hrs - 7 days
What symptoms occur in severe withdrawal?
- severe agitation
- confusion
- delusions
- hallucinations
- circulatory collapse
- Delirium Tremens
Effects on the NS include (3)…
Peripheral neuropathy
Compression neuropathy
myopathy
Interactions of alcohol with cardio problems?
not a direct link for CVD but a J shaped graph
arrhythmias like holiday heart syndrome and long QT
What conditions in the liver are linked with alcohol? (3)
cirrhosis
alcohol related steatosis
alcohol related hepatitis
What are the key points about alcohol related steatosis? (3)
universal in alkies
weird LFTs
reverses with cessation
What kind of mortality is associated with alcohol related hepatitis?
high
what six treatments are used for the liver in alcohol related damage?
abstinence, vitamins, nutrition, drugs (beta blockers and rifaximin), TIPPS and transplant
What is the drink drive limit?
50-80mg per 100ml
What four drugs are used in withdrawal?
Acamprosate
Naltrexone
Disulphiram
Nalmefene
What does Acamprosate used for?
used for cravings
What is Naltrexone used for?
used for desire
What is Disulphiram used for?
used as aversion therapy
What is Nalmefene used for?
opioid antagonist
