Association between alcohol-Induced mental and behavioral disorders and comorbidities: Evidence from the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury survey data.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption is a significant social medium in South Korea, yet alcohol use disorders (AUD) impose a substantial public health burden. This study aimed to analyze sex-specific clinico-demographic characteristics, comorbidity patterns, and factors affecting the length of stay (LOS) among patients hospitalized for alcohol-induced mental and behavioral disorders using a nationally representative database. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study utilized data from the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-Depth Injury Survey (KNHDIS) from 2014 to 2023. After applying sampling weights to account for the complex survey design, a total of 201,572 patients were included in the analysis. Differences in general characteristics were tested using the Rao-Scott chi-square test, and factors influencing log-transformed LOS were identified through multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Demographic Profile: Male patients were most prevalent in their 50s (36.6%), whereas female patients showed a younger age distribution, peaking in their 40s (31.1%). Comorbidity Patterns: Men had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (30.0%) and diabetes (20.2%). Conversely, women exhibited significantly higher rates of comorbid mental disorders (31.5%) and injuries (19.8%). Predictors of LOS: Comorbid mental disorders were the strongest predictors of prolonged LOS in both sexes. However, injuries and neurological diseases significantly extended LOS only in men, showing no significant impact in women. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidity patterns and medical resource utilization patterns among patients with alcohol use disorder differ markedly by sex. Therefore, alcohol addiction management policies and clinical interventions require sex-tailored approaches, particularly emphasizing the urgent establishment of multidisciplinary integrated treatment systems for cases with comorbid mental health disorders.