A person who abuses alcohol is at risk for adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) if admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
In the study of Simou et al a person with high alcohol consumption had an odds ratio of 1.9 compared to a person with low alcohol consumption.
Excessive alcohol consumption was
(1) >= 15 drinks per week for an adult male (heavy)
(2) >= 8 drinks per week for an adult female (heavy)
(3) >= 5 drinks on a single occasion for an adult male (binge)
(4) >= 4 drinks on a single occasion for an adult female (binge)
Additional risk factors that may contribute to ARDS in an alcoholic:
(1) pneumonia
(2) aspiration pneumonia
(3) acute pancreatitis
(4) sepsis
(5) multiple transfusions
(6) trauma
(7) hypoproteinemia
(8) burns
(9) smoke inhalation
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Specialty: Critical Care, Toxicology
