@article {1693, title = {Risk for delirium tremens in patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome.}, journal = {Substance abuse : official publication of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse}, volume = {23}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Jun}, pages = {83-94}, abstract = {To determine the characteristics associated with an increased risk for delirium tremens (DT) we performed a case-control study at the detoxification units of two hospitals. Cases met DSM-IV criteria for DT. For each case (n = 15), 3 controls (n = 45) were chosen. Eligibility criteria were applied equally to cases and controls. Cases were more likely than controls to report a prior complicated withdrawal (DT or alcohol withdrawal seizure) (53 vs. 27\%, OR 3.1, 95\% CI 0.94-10.55), have a systolic blood pressure greater than 145 mm Hg on admission (60 vs. 27\%, OR 4.1, 95\% CI 1.21-14.06), and have comorbidity scores of at least 1 (60 vs. 18\%, OR 6.9, 95\% CI 1.92-25.08). Zero cases (0\%) and 15 (33\%) controls had no prior complicated withdrawals and no adverse clinical features (systolic blood pressure >145 or comorbidity score >1). Compared to this group, the odds of being a case and having both prior complicated withdrawal and at least 1 adverse clinical feature was 44.8 (95\% CI 4.36-460). Elevated blood pressure, prior complicated alcohol withdrawal and medical comorbidity, alone and in combination, are associated with an increased risk of delirium tremens.}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium, Body Temperature, Case-Control Studies, Ethanol, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Hypertension, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome}, issn = {0889-7077}, doi = {10.1111/j.1521-0391.2011.00207.x}, author = {Fiellin, David A and O{\textquoteright}Connor, Patrick G and Holmboe, Eric S and Horwitz, Ralph I} }