The effects of alcohol consumption, psychological distress and smoking status on emergency department presentations in New South Wales, Australia

Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics by risk factor in NSW, 2002–2004

	High risk alcohol consumption^a % (N = 2,187)	High psychological distress^b % (N = 3,259)	Current smoking^c % (N = 7,113)	Total population % (N = 34,974)
Sex
Male	58.1	42.2	54.3	49.2
Female	41.9	57.8	45.7	50.8
Age (years)
16–29	57.4	28.2	30.6	24.3
30–39	19.5	20.8	25.8	19.7
40–49	12.6	20.1	21.0	19.0
50–59	6.7	14.5	13.8	15.6
60+	3.9	16.4	8.8	21.4
Marital status
Married (registered)	26.4	43.3	42.0	56.7
Never married	63.8	35.7	41.3	29.2
Divorced/separated/widowed	9.7	20.9	16.4	13.9
Highest qualification
University degree	14.3	16.7	16.2	24.8
TAFE certificate/diploma^d	37.9	35.2	38.5	32.9
Higher School Certificate/Year 12	21.1	13.7	14.1	13.1
School Certificate/Year 10	16.8	18.0	17.7	16.6
Primary/Year 7–9/Other	9.6	15.8	12.7	11.6
Household income
< $20,000	13.8	26.4	18.6	17.0
$20,000–$39,999	13.6	16.6	17.2	15.1
$40,000–$59,999	15.2	14.9	16.0	15.2
$60,000+	37.0	20.0	30.2	33.1
Don't know/refused	20.4	22.1	18.1	19.6
Employment status
Employed	73.5	50.7	66.2	61.1
Unemployed or in unpaid work	26.2	48.8	33.4	38.9
Area of residence
Urban area	64.4	70.0	68.5	69.8
Rural area	35.6	30.0	31.5	30.2

Source: New South Wales Population Health Survey, Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health
^a Based on survey question: 'On a day when you drink alcohol, how many standard drinks do you usually have?' Usually drinking 5 or more (for females) and 7 or more (for males) were identified as high risk alcohol consumption.
^b Based on a Psychological Distress Scale (using the K10) of 22 or more.
^c Current smokers were categorized by respondents who indicated they smoked daily or smoked occasionally.
^d Technical and Further Education College certificate or diploma

ISSN: 1471-2458