FIVE YEARS TREND ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS ADMITTED TO McGANN HOSPITAL IN SHIMOGA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Alcoholism is one of the major problems hindering the growth of many developing countries including India. Alcohol consumption has been steadily increasing in India since 1980s and has been identified as the third largest market for alcoholic beverages. This increased rate of alcohol consumption has adverse effects on society, economy, youth, health, safety and absenteeism. In this retrospective study over a period of five years (2008- 2012), the data of patients at a district hospital in Shimoga, Karnataka, India, have been analyzed keeping in view of alcoholic patients. The results of this study indicate that there has been a steady increase in the percentage of alcoholic inpatients as well as outpatients over the years. Further, during the study period about 2.6% of total outpatients and 1.4% of total inpatients recorded at this hospital were due to alcohol related disorders. Among these alcoholics, about 70% patients suffer