Prevalence of Drinking Within Low-Risk Guidelines During the First 2 Years After Inpatient Rehabilitation for Moderate or Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this retrospective, longitudinal study was to investigate the prevalence of drinking within the recommended limits (i.e., low-risk drinking) after moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Data were drawn from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research TBI Model Systems National Database, a longitudinal dataset closely representative of the US adult population requiring inpatient rehabilitation for TBI. The sample included 6348 adults with moderate or severe TBI (injured October 2006-May 2016) who received inpatient rehabilitation at a civilian TBI Model Systems center and completed the alcohol consumption items preinjury and 1 and 2 yrs postinjury. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines define low-risk drinking as no more than 4 drinks per day for men or 3 drinks per day for women and no more than 14 drinks per week for men or no more than 7 drinks per week for women. Low-risk drinking was common both before and after TBI, with more than 30% drinking in the low-risk level preinjury and more than 25% at 1 and 2 yrs postinjury. Postinjury, most drinkers consumed alcohol in the low-risk level regardless of preinjury drinking level. Definitive research on the long-term outcomes of low-risk alcohol consumption after more severe TBI should be a high priority.