Study Identifies Risk Factors Related to Post-Op Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Sarfraz A, Mevawalla A, Altaf A, et al. Nationwide Trends and Perioperative Outcomes of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome After Major Operation. J Am Coll Surg. 2025; in press. 

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) represents a growing concern in patient care because of its association with worse healthcare outcomes and increased healthcare costs. 

Azza Sarfraz and colleagues, from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus, used 2016–2019 data from the National Inpatient Sample to identify adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent major surgical procedures, the plurality being colectomy, coronary artery bypass grafting, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, and pneumonectomy. 

They found that among more than 3 million surgical patients, 16,504 (0.5%) were diagnosed with AWS, including 6,591 (0.2%) that also had delirium tremens. Patients with AWS were most likely male, younger (age 61 versus the median age of 67), and had a higher likelihood of having Medicaid than the non-AWS patients. The incidence of AWS varied by surgical procedure type, with the highest rate among patients undergoing colectomy. 

Additionally, patients with AWS spent an average 5 more days in the hospital and had higher adjusted hospitalization costs of $10,030.

The researchers said their findings underscore the need for standardized perioperative screening and targeted management strategies to mitigate AWS-related risks.