Citation

Thornley S, Kool B, Marshall RJ, Ameratunga SN. N. Zeal. Med. J. 2014; 127(1406): 32-38.

Affiliation

Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Auckland, Tamaki Campus, 261 Morrin Road, Glen Innes, Auckland 1072, New Zealand. b.kool@auckland.ac.nz.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, New Zealand Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

25447247

Abstract

AIM: This study investigated whether hospitalised fall-related injuries among young and middle-aged adults were associated with short term effects of alcohol intake, marijuana use and sleep deprivation.

METHOD: A case-crossover design was used to study 690 adults (aged 20 to 64 years) admitted to public hospitals within 48 hours of a fall-related injury, occurring at home, in three regions of New Zealand during August 2008 to December 2009. A matched-pair interval method of analysis was used to compare alcohol intake, marijuana use and sleep deprivation before the event with similar information in two control periods: 24 hours-before and 1 week-before the time of injury.

RESULTS: After adjustment for other paired exposures, the estimated risk of injury was substantially higher after consuming alcohol within the preceding 6 hours, with a dose response gradient. After adjusting for confounding variables, the data did not support a significantly elevated risk of fall-related injury associated with sleep deprivation (<6 hours sleep in the preceding 24 hours), or marijuana use in the preceding 3 hours.

CONCLUSION: The findings support the expansion of efforts to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol intake in the home environment.

Language: en