TITLE OF THE MANUSCRIPT: “FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DELIRIUM TREMENS-A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY”

Abstract

Background:Delirium Tremens (DT) a severe complication of alcohol dependence occurring in approximately 5-20% of patients and has high morbidity and mortality. Research till date has showed various clinical, laboratory and drinking related variables as risk factors for DT but there is always a question of what makes certain individuals vulnerable for DT.

Aim:The current study aims to look at the factors associated with delirium tremens among inpatients with DT.

Methods.A total of 63 patients presenting with Delirium tremens in Drug naïve state were included in the study after excluding other causes of delirium. Blood samples were collected after obtaining informed consent to estimate Serum electrolyte levels, bilirubin, liver enzymes, platelet counts and mean corpuscular volume before initiating treatment. CIWA-Ar and SADQ were administered.

Results:Mean & standard deviation values of different parameters are observed as; serum sodium (141.26±4.49), serum potassium (3.43±0.546), serum chloride (100.69±4.43). serum calcium (9.02±0.87) and serum magnesium (2.03±0.57). Mean CIWA-Ar score was 18.5 ± 4.88. There was a positive corelation between severity of alcohol dependence and severity of alcohol withdrawal (p-value 0.000).

Conclusion:The present study has shown that few delirium tremens patient have a considerable number of changes in serum electrolytes, liver enzymes, bilirubin, platelet counts and MCV levels but no statistical significance was found when compared among different age and CIWA-Ar cluster groups. Serum SGOT levels of DT patient is significantly high especially in younger age group.