Concurrent alcohol and medication poisoning hospital admissions among older rural and urban residents

Backgrounds: Alcohol and, medication interactions are projected:to increase due to the growth of older adults that are unsafely consuming alcohol and medications: Plus, aging adults who reside in rural areas are at the highest risk of experiencing Medication interactions: Objective Estimate concurrent alcohol and medication (alcohol/medication) hospitalizations: in adults 50+ years, comparing age groups and rural/urban regions. Methods: Kentucky nonfederal, acute care inpatient hospital discharge electronic records for individuals aged 50+ years from 2001 to 2012 were examined. Rate differences were estimated across age and regional Strata. Differences in the underlying principal diagnosis, intent, and medications were also examined. Results: There were 2168 concurrent alcohol/medication hospitalizations among 50+ year olds identified. There was a 187% increase in alcohol/medication hospitalizations from 2001 (n = 1:04) to 2012 (n = 299). The per capita alcohol/medication hospitalization rate increased from 8.91 (per 100,000) in 2001 to 19.98 (per 100,000) in 2012, a 124% increase. The characteristics of the hospitalizations included 75%, principal diagnosis as medication poisoning; self as the primary intent (55%) in 50-64-year olds, and unintentional intent (41%) in 65+ adults. Beniodiazepines were most often involved in the poisonings (36.5%). Conclusions: Concurrent alcohol/medication: hospitalizations in Kentucky are increasing among aging-adults: Greater increases in rural areas and the 65+ aged adults were seen, although there were also higher alcohol/medication hospitalizations in urban and 50-64 aged adults. These findings indicate the need for public-health prevention and clinical intervention to better educate and manage alcohol consuming Older adults on safe Meditation and alcohol practices.