Table 2 Characteristics of 1908 episodes with a positive and negative BAC
Alcohol <10 mg/100 mlAlcohol >10 mg/100 ml
N  =  1617 (85%)N  =  291 (15%)
Gender (male)*948 (59%)251 (86%)
Mean age (SD)*58.85 (20.47)45.38 (17.63)
Ethnicity (British white)654 (40%)149 (51%)
Reason (ICD code)N and % for each code
External causes of morbidity (V01–Y98)
    Road traffic accident (V01–99)43 (81%)10 (19%)
    Other accidents (W00–X59)53 (62%)36 (38%)
    Assault (X85–Y09)28 (57%)21 (43%)
    Self-harm (X60–X84)23 (51%)22 (49%)
Diseases of the circulatory system (I00–I99)
    Ischaemic heart disease (I20–I25)358 (90%)40 (10%)
    Arrhythmic/conduct disorders (I44–I45)110 (95%)6 (5%)
    Congestive cardiac failure (I50)69 (93%)5 (7%)
    Myocardial infarction (I21)46 (94%)3 (6%)
    Cerebral infarct/haemorrhage (I60–I64)67 (92%)6 (8%)
    Other60 (91%)6 (9%)
Diseases of the respiratory system (J00–J99)
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (J43–J44)70 (96%)3 (4%)
    Asthma (J45)51 (90%)6 (10%)
    Bronchitis/emphysema (J40–J42)64 (97%)2 (3%)
    Other85 (94%)6 (6%)
Diseases of the nervous system (G00–G99)
    Paroxysmal disorders (epilepsy) (G40–G47)74 (88%)10 (12%)
    Other16 (94%)1 (6%)
Mental and behavioural disorders (F00–F99)
    Alcohol misuse (F10)4 (9%)41 (91%)
    Drug misuse (F11–F19)13 (59%)9 (41%)
    Acute confusional state (F04)5 (100%)0 (0%)
    Other14 (78%)4 (22%)
Diseases of the digestive system (K00–K93)
    Gastrointestinal bleed (K92.2)34 (77%)10 (23%)
    Other65 (92%)6 (8%)
Other
    Acute infection/sepsis (A00–B99)35 (88%)5 (12%)
    Non-cardiac chest pain (R07)45 (76%)14 (24%)
    Syncope (R53)32 (97%)1 (3%)
    Obstetric/gynaecological (O00–O99)9 (90%)1 (10%)
    Anaphylaxis (T78.2)20 (83%)4 (17%)
    Miscellaneous124 (90%)13 (10%)
  • *p<0.01. BAC, blood alcohol concentration; ICD, International Classification of Diseases.