Citation

Rivara FP, Koepsell TD, Jurkovich GJ, Gurney JG, Soderberg R. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 1993; 270(16): 1962-1964.

Affiliation

Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA 98104-2499.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, American Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8105114

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To determine the effect of admission for trauma with concurrent acute alcohol intoxication or chronic alcohol abuse on the risk of subsequent recurrence of trauma. DESIGN--Prospective cohort study. SETTING--Level I regional trauma center. PATIENTS--A total of 2,578 patients 18 years or older admitted with blunt or penetrating trauma within 24 hours of injury and surviving to discharge. All patients had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test, a gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) test, and the short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (SMAST) performed on admission. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT--Readmission to the trauma center for new trauma. Average follow-up was 28 months (range, 16 to 40 months). RESULTS--The overall rate of readmission for new injuries was 1.3 per 1,000 patient-months of follow-up. Patients who were intoxicated on the initial admission (BAC > 22 mmol/L [100 mg/dL]) were 2.5-fold as likely to be readmitted than those not intoxicated (95% confidence limits, 1.6, 3.9). The relative risks for patients with positive SMAST scores and abnormal GGT values were 2.2 (95% confidence limits, 1.4, 3.5) and 3.5 (95% confidence limits, 2.2, 5.5), respectively. The increased risks remained significant for intoxication and abnormal GGT values after adjustment for gender, race, Medicaid status, and mechanism of injury. CONCLUSION--Alcohol abuse is associated with an increased risk of readmission for new trauma. Trauma patients should be screened for alcohol problems; referral of problem drinkers for appropriate care may decrease their risk of admission for subsequent trauma.