[Patients with alcohol problem in the Emergency Department of Medical University of Gdańsk].

Alcohol misuse are severe financial burden for health care system in Poland. AUDIT and CAGE are two questionnaires used for diagnosis of alcohol abuse. We analyzed the incidence of alcohol problem among emergency unit's patients and correlation of this phenomenon with the reason of admittance to the hospital. 30% patients of Clinical Hospital Emergency Unit of Gdańsk misuse alcohol. Injuries and acute intoxications were considerably more frequent reason of attendances to emergency unit in population of patients with drinking problem. AUDIT questionnaire is more effective and sensitive diagnostic instrument comparing to CAGE and may be useful for identification for both, addicted and misusing alcohol patients.