Predictive factors of cognitive impairment in alcohol use disorder inpatients

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairments are common in patients with AUD and worsen the prognosis of addiction management. There are no clear guidelines for screening cognitive impairments in hospitalized patients with AUD.

Methods: Fifty-seven patients with an AUD history who were admitted to an acute hospital and assessed by the addiction care team were included. Those patients were screened for cognitive impairments using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. We collected clinical information regarding addiction history, comorbidities, and current treatments. Chi-square tests, t-tests, and Mann-Whitney tests were performed to determine factors associated with a pathological MoCA score (<26).

Results: A pathological MoCA score was positively associated with spatial-temporal disorientation, difficulty in recalling addiction history, patient underreporting of AUD and a date of last alcohol consumption lower than 11 days ago, and negatively associated with a reason for hospitalization due to alcohol-related health issues. No medication was associated with cognitive impairments.

Conclusions: Clinical elements from assessment by the addiction care team allow for relevant indication for screening cognitive impairments.

Keywords: Alcohol; Cognitive impairment; Inpatient; Screening.