@article{ref1,
title="Alcohol consumption, hospitalization and medical expenditure: a large epidemiological study on the medical insurance system in Japan",
journal="Alcohol and alcoholism",
year="2014",
author="Nakamura, Koshi and Okuda, Nagako and Okamura, Tomonori and Miura, Katsuyuki and Nishimura, Kunihiro and Yasumura, Seiji and Sakata, Kiyomi and Hidaka, Hideki and Okayama, Akira",
volume="50",
number="2",
pages="236-243",
abstract="AIMS: This study investigated the relationship between alcohol drinking habits and the onset of high medical expenditure in a Japanese male population. <br><br>METHODS: The cohort comprised 94,307 male beneficiaries 40-69 years of age of the Japanese medical insurance system, who had daily alcohol drinking habits. The likelihood of incurring high medical expenditure, defined as the ≥90th percentile of the medical expenditure distribution in the study population 1 year after baseline, as well as the likelihood of undergoing hospitalization that year were compared among the participants grouped according to their alcohol consumption amount (<2, 2-3.9, 4-5.9, ≥6 drinks/day). <br><br>RESULTS: Participants who ranked in the top 10% medical expenditure group within the 1 year after baseline each incurred at least 2152 euros/year. The top 10% medical expenditure group accounted for 61.1% of the total medical expenditure in the study population. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for ranking in the top 10% group during the 1-year period, compared with the <2 drinks (23 g of alcohol)/day group, were 1.08 (1.02-1.15) for 2-3.9 drinks/day, 1.11 (1.05-1.19) for 4-5.9 drinks/day, and 1.31 (1.18-1.45) for ≥6 drinks/day after adjustment for age, body mass index, and smoking and exercise habits. The adjusted odds ratios for undergoing hospitalization were 1.11 (1.04-1.19), 1.14 (1.06-1.24) and 1.39 (1.24-1.56), respectively. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The likelihood of incurring high medical expenditure and undergoing hospitalization increased with daily alcohol consumption amount.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0735-0414",
doi="10.1093/alcalc/agu089",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agu089"
}