This section presents information on the number of hospital admissions for diseases, injuries and conditions that can be attributed to alcohol consumption.

Estimates of the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions have been calculated by applying alcohol-attributable fractions (AAFs)¹ to Hospital Episode Statistics data.

Two measures for alcohol-related hospital admissions have been used:

• Narrow measure – where the main reason for admission to hospital was attributable to alcohol².

• Broad measure – where the primary reason for hospital admission or a secondary diagnosis was linked to alcohol.

The narrow measure estimates the number of hospital admissions which are primarily due to alcohol consumption and provides the best indication of trends in alcohol-related hospital admissions.

The broad measure gives an indication of the full impact of alcohol on hospital admissions and the burden placed on the NHS.

^{1. An AAF is the proportion of a condition assessed to have been caused by alcohol.  See appendix B for more details.}

^{2. An alcohol-related disease, injury or condition was the primary reason for a hospital admission or an alcohol-related external cause was recorded in a secondary diagnosis field.}

Hospital admissions – last 10 years

In 2016/17 there were 337 thousand estimated admissions where the main reason for admission to hospital was attributable to alcohol (narrow measure).

This is 1% lower than 2015/16 and 17% higher than 2006/07.

This represents 2.1% of all hospital admissions which has changed little in the last 10 years.

Total number of admissions by age

The number of admissions rises with age up until 45-54 and then falls.

39% of patients were aged between 45 and 64.

Total number of admissions by sex

More men than women were admitted.

In total, 62% of the patients were male.

Admissions per 100,000 population

Blackpool had the highest rate at 1,150 per 100,000 population.

Redbridge had the lowest rate at 390.

Admissions by diagnosis

Almost a quarter of admissions were for cancer.

22% were for unintentional injuries.

There were 1.1 million estimated admissions where the primary reason for hospital admission or a secondary diagnosis was linked to alcohol, which is 1% higher than 2015/16 (broad measure)¹.

This represents 7.0% of all hospital admissions.

Total number of admissions by age

46% of patients were aged between 55 and 74.

Total number of admissions by sex

Just under two-thirds of patients were male.

Admissions per 100,000 population

Salford had the highest rate at 3,500 per 100,000 population.

Rutland had the lowest rate at 1,390.

Admissions by diagnosis

51% of admissions were for CVD.

17% were for mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol.

^{1.  Changes over a longer time period will partly reflect improvements in recording of secondary diagnoses.}