Alcohol and trauma: The impact of acute and chronic alcohol abuse on injury severity and death in a trauma population

Authors

  • Odd Nilssen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5324/nje.v6i1.340

Abstract

 

ABSTRACT

Study objectives

 

 

Design

 

 

Setting

 

 

Participants

 

 

Main results

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

Key words

 

 

Abbreviations

 

 

: AIS (Abbreviated Injury Scale); BAL (blood alcohol level); GDH (glutamate dehydrogenase); GGT

(gamma-glutamyltransferase); HMC (Harborview Medical Centre); ISS (Injury Severity Score); MCV (mean corpuscular

volume); MV-occupants (motor vehicle occupants); SMAST (Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test); WAM

(weighed alcohol markers).

: alcohol markers; biological; injury severity; lethality; screening tests; trauma: This study indicates that acute and chronic alcohol use, at least for some types of injury, has

contrasting effects on injury severity and mortality in men and women hospitalized for trauma. Future

studies on alcohol and trauma should recognize this, and present sex-specific analyses.

: The effect of alcohol use on injury severity and mortality was different between genders.

Increasing use of alcohol in men showed a "protective" effect, while the opposite effect was observed in

women. With the exception of injury severity in motor vehicle occupants and motorcyclists, the "protective"

effect of alcohol was found for all types of trauma in men, whereas increasing alcohol use in women

was associated with an increase in injury severity and mortality for penetrating injuries and for motor

vehicle occupants and motorcyclists. Women with blunt injuries, however, showed the same "protective"

effect from alcohol as observed in men. No differences was found between acute and chronic alcohol use

with respect to trauma morbidity and mortality.

: 2195 men and 664 women 18 years or older, admitted with blunt or penetrating trauma.: Regional Level 1 trauma center in Seattle, Washington, USA.: A prospective cohort study.: To explore possible impact of acute and chronic alcohol abuse on injury severity and

mortality in male and female trauma patients.

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Published

2009-10-14

How to Cite

Nilssen, O. (2009). Alcohol and trauma: The impact of acute and chronic alcohol abuse on injury severity and death in a trauma population. Norsk Epidemiologi, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.5324/nje.v6i1.340