Role of alcohol in urgent ambulance contacts in the Capital Region of Denmark: a 9-year population-based study across sex and age groups

Introduction Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of accidents, and previous studies have shown that alcohol-related harm places a significant burden on emergency departments. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of ambulance contacts in the Capital Region of Denmark related to alcohol from 9 March 2015 to 30 April 2024, and to characterise these contacts, focusing on differences across sex and age groups. Methods We conducted a descriptive study based on information from urgent ambulance contacts in the Capital Region of Denmark. The study population included patients aged 15 years and older. Alcohol-related ambulance contacts were identified using a two-step approach: an automated keyword search in prehospital medical records followed by manual verification. The main outcome measures were proportions and relative proportions (RPs) of ambulance contacts related to alcohol. Results We estimated that 6.2% of all ambulance contacts in the Capital Region of Denmark were alcohol-related. The proportion was significantly higher in males compared with females (RP 2.03 (95% CI 1.92 to 2.14)). Alcohol-related contacts were most prevalent in those aged 15–24 years (17%), and least prevalent in those aged 70 years or older (1.9%). The proportion of ambulance contacts being alcohol-related was highest on Fridays (10%) and Saturdays (9.8%), peaking at night-time. The most common causes of alcohol-related contacts were accidents (38%) and acute alcohol intoxication (26%). We observed an age-related shift in the cause of contact, with the proportion of accidents increasing and the proportion of acute intoxication decreasing with advancing age. Conclusions 6.2% of urgent ambulance contacts in the Capital Region of Denmark were alcohol-related, with substantial variations across sex and age. This emphasises a need for targeted preventive measures reducing acute alcohol-related harms and consideration of targeted prehospital resources.