Acute alcohol intoxication among adolescents in Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium: a cross-national hospital chart comparison study.

Excessive drinking among adolescents in Western Europe is a significant concern, with substantial health risks and societal costs. To better understand the demographics and clinical characteristics of acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) among adolescents, a study analyzed emergency department data from three urban regions: Genoa (Italy), Delft (the Netherlands), and Antwerp (Belgium). The data, which spanned from 2015 to 2023, included 1826 admissions of adolescents aged 14-17. The findings revealed notable differences in AAI admission rates among the three countries. Belgium had the highest median annual admission rate, with 51 cases per 10,000 adolescents, followed by the Netherlands with 49 cases per 10,000, and Italy with 37 cases per 10,000. The median age of patients was consistent across all countries, with an average age of 16 years. The study also found variations in the demographic characteristics of AAI patients across the three countries. While the sex distribution was equal among Dutch patients, more males were admitted in Italy and Belgium, with the difference being statistically significant in Belgium. Additionally, the median blood alcohol concentration (BAC) varied among the countries, with the Netherlands having a higher BAC (2.00 g/L) compared to Italy (1.84 g/L) and Belgium (1.97 g/L). This difference remained statistically significant even after adjusting for confounders. Furthermore, the proportion of patients with combined drug use was similar across the three countries, accounting for 10.4% of the total population. The study highlights the need for a unified European database on AAI in adolescents to enhance prevention efforts and develop effective strategies to address excessive drinking among adolescents. By consolidating data from multiple countries, this study provides valuable insights into the complexities of AAI among adolescents and emphasizes the importance of international collaboration to address this critical public health issue. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40154987/