Citation

Cherpitel CJ, Ye Y, Kerr WC. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 2018; 42(2): 360-368.

Affiliation

Alcohol Research Group Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound St. Suite 450, Emeryville, CA, 94608.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/acer.13561

PMID

29160960

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While a strong association exists between alcohol and injury in emergency department (ED) studies, these studies are not representative of the general population.

OBJECTIVE: The association of injury with the number of hours of exposure to a BAC ≥ 0.05 and average monthly volume in drinks, both based on self-report of quantity and frequency of drinking in the last year, in a merged sample of respondents (n=29,571) from four U.S. National Alcohol Surveys (2000-2015) is analyzed.

METHODS: Risk curves based on categorical step-function and fractional polynomial modeling were analyzed separately by gender, and by age and race/ethnicity for males.

RESULTS: Risk of injury increased at one hour of a BAC exposure of ≥ 0.05 and at an average monthly volume of one drink. Risk of injury for spirits increased to an average daily volume of one drink, but no association was found for injury risk and average volume for either wine or beer. Risk of injury increased with both exposure hours and monthly volume among males, but little association was found for either consumption measure with risk of injury for females. Among males increased risk of injury was greater for whites than for blacks or Hispanics for BAC exposure; Hispanics showed a continued elevated risk up to 8 hours of exposure. After peaking at a monthly volume of one drink, injury risk decreased substantially for blacks, but was more gradual for whites, while risk increased very slightly for Hispanics to about 4 drinks per day. Males aged 18-29 showed the largest increase in risk associated with the number of hours of exposure to a BAC of ≥ 0.05, with risk doubling at one hour of exposure, but subsequently falling.

CONCLUSIONS: While findings here are weaker than those from ED studies and likely due to the context of drinking, risk of injury appears to increase at relatively low levels of consumption, suggesting the importance of preventive efforts to reduce injury not only for heavier drinkers but also for more moderate drinkers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en