TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Alcohol consumption, hospitalization and medical expenditure: a large epidemiological study on the medical insurance system in Japan
JO  - Alcohol and alcoholism
A1  - Nakamura, Koshi
A1  - Okuda, Nagako
A1  - Okamura, Tomonori
A1  - Miura, Katsuyuki
A1  - Nishimura, Kunihiro
A1  - Yasumura, Seiji
A1  - Sakata, Kiyomi
A1  - Hidaka, Hideki
A1  - Okayama, Akira
SP  - 236
EP  - 243
VL  - 50
IS  - 2
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0735-0414
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agu089
ID  - ref1
ER  -