Citation

Kuendig H, Hasselberg M, Gmel G, Daeppen JB, Laflamme L. Inj. Prev. 2009; 15(4): 270-274.

Affiliation

Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of International Health, Nobels vag9, Stockholm SE 171 77, Sweden. herve.kuendig@ki.se

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/ip.2008.020198

PMID

19652002

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between usual and acute alcohol consumption among injured patients and, when combined, how they covary with other injury attributes. METHODS: Data from a randomised sample of 486 injured patients interviewed in an emergency department (Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland) were analysed using the chi(2) test for independence and cluster analysis. RESULTS: Acute alcohol consumption (24.7%) was associated with usual drinking and particularly with high volumes of consumption. Six injury clusters were identified. Over-representations of acute consumption were found in a cluster typical of injuries sustained through interpersonal violence and in another formed by miscellaneous circumstances. A third cluster, typical of sports injuries, was linked to a group of frequent heavy episodic drinkers (without acute consumption). CONCLUSIONS: Among injured patients, acute alcohol consumption is common and associated with usual drinking. Acute and/or usual consumption form part of some, but not all, injury clusters.

Language: en