AUDIT-C

Q: 75 years old male is admitted to ICU after Coronary artery bypass surgery. Patient has significant agitation while coming out of sedation for extubation. Review of chart shows an AUDIT-C score of 10. AUDIT-C has clinical significance for which underlying disorder? - Select one

A) Alcohol abuse

B) Barbiturate dependence

C) Cocaine abuse

D) Dementia risk factor

E) Epilepsy risk factor

Answer: A

Frequently missed or not performed preoperatively in surgical patients undergoing high-risk cases is a simple three-question alcohol abuse score. The following three questions are asked, each graded on a scale of 0 to 4 points.

1. How often did you have a drink containing alcohol in the past year?
2. How many drinks did you have on a typical day when you were drinking in the past year?
3. How often did you have 6 or more drinks on one occasion in the past year?

A score of 4 or more is considered positive in men, and a score of 3 or more is considered positive in women.

AUDIT-C calculator is readily available from any search engine.

#surgical-critical-care

#ETOH-abuse

References:

1. Bush K, Kivlahan DR, McDonell MB, Fihn SD, Bradley KA. The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C): an effective brief screening test for problem drinking. Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement Project (ACQUIP). Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Arch Intern Med. 1998 Sep 14;158(16):1789-95. doi: 10.1001/archinte.158.16.1789. PMID: 9738608.

2. Simon CB, McCabe CJ, Matson TE, Oliver M, Bradley KA, Hallgren KA. High test-retest reliability of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) questionnaire completed by primary care patients in routine care. Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken). 2024 Feb;48(2):302-308. doi: 10.1111/acer.15245. Epub 2023 Dec 23. PMID: 38099421; PMCID: PMC10922542.