Alcohol factor in the structure of calls for ambulance in St. Petersburg

Introduction. Alcohol is the cause of death, 3 million people on the Planet every year. In Russia there are about 1,2 million people with alcohol dependence, up to 30% of all deaths are related to alcohol. Patients with alcohol use disorder are serious, unreasonable burden on the healthcare system.

Purpose of the study: study of the structure and distribution of emergency medical care calls to patients with signs of alcohol intoxication.

Materials and methods. The material was the data of the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Emergency Medicine named after I. I. Dzhanelidze and the City Emergency Medical Station (GSSMP) for the 5-year period (2018–2022). Statistical and analytical methods used.

Research results. During the study period, more than 2,5 million emergency medical calls, carried out by the GSSMP brigades, including patients with signs of alcohol intoxication (diagnostic sign —  smell of alcohol). 2018–2022: the proportion of visits to sober patients was 8,8% with a tendency to further growth, estimated distribution per 1,000 inhabitants —  10,8 calls per 1,000 inhabitants; highest recorded in the Central region (21,9), in second place is the Admiralty District (18,3), third —  Petrogradsky (13,5). When assessing the distribution of the number of calls by area, the indicator was 64,2 per km², The highest density was recorded in the Central region (274,1 call per km²), 2nd place —  Admiralty District (210,5 calls per km²).

Conclusion. In the course of the study data were obtained, allowing to conclude on the distribution of calls of ambulance crews to patients with signs of alcohol intoxication in the districts of the city, including the density of their distribution per 1000 inhabitants of the district and per 1 km² area of the district; a map of the city is presented, characterizing the distribution of the «alcohol» load on ambulance brigades in the districts of the city. Data allow more rational use and distribution of resources of medical organizations, participating in the provision of medical care to patients with signs of alcohol intoxication.

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