R A Bernier1, F G Hillary1,2. 1. a Department of Psychology , The Pennsylvania State University, University Park , PA , USA. 2. b Hershey Medical Center , Hershey , PA , USA.
Abstract
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Alcohol is a known risk factor for TBI, yet little is known about how rates of alcohol use at time of injury differ across demographics and the stability of alcohol-related injury over time. Further, findings examining the relationship between alcohol and outcome are mixed. This study aimed to examine changes in alcohol-positive moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (+aTBI) over two decades with focus on demographic factors, changes in +aTBI frequency over time, mortality and acute outcome. METHODS: This retrospective study examined data collected from 1992-2009 by the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study (PTOS). RESULTS: Results reveal that the proportion of +aTBI has been generally stable across years. However, there is an interaction of +aTBI incidence with mechanism of injury and age, with a downward trend in +aTBI within MVA and fall and individuals 18-30 and 71+ years. Further, consistent with several findings in the literature, alcohol was associated with higher rates of survival and better FSD scores during acute recovery. CONCLUSIONS: This study discusses findings in the context of a greater literature on TBI-related alcohol and outcome. The injury-alcohol profiles highlighted could be used to inform future allocation of resources toward prevention of, intervention for and care of individuals who sustain TBI.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:Alcohol is a known risk factor for TBI, yet little is known about how rates of alcohol use at time of injury differ across demographics and the stability of alcohol-related injury over time. Further, findings examining the relationship between alcohol and outcome are mixed. This study aimed to examine changes in alcohol-positive moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (+aTBI) over two decades with focus on demographic factors, changes in +aTBI frequency over time, mortality and acute outcome. METHODS: This retrospective study examined data collected from 1992-2009 by the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcome Study (PTOS). RESULTS: Results reveal that the proportion of +aTBI has been generally stable across years. However, there is an interaction of +aTBI incidence with mechanism of injury and age, with a downward trend in +aTBI within MVA and fall and individuals 18-30 and 71+ years. Further, consistent with several findings in the literature, alcohol was associated with higher rates of survival and better FSD scores during acute recovery. CONCLUSIONS: This study discusses findings in the context of a greater literature on TBI-related alcohol and outcome. The injury-alcohol profiles highlighted could be used to inform future allocation of resources toward prevention of, intervention for and care of individuals who sustain TBI.
Authors: Madeline M Eyer; Colleen M Renier; Theo A Woehrle; Linda E Vogel; Pat G Conway; Catherine A McCarty Journal: J Trauma Nurs Date: 2017 Mar/Apr Impact factor: 1.010