OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of acute alcohol intoxication and the proportion of trauma patients with evidence of chronic alcohol abuse. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Regional level I trauma center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 18 years and older admitted with blunt or penetrating trauma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Admission blood alcohol concentrations (BACs), the Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (SMAST), and biochemical markers for chronic alcohol abuse. RESULTS: Of the 2657 patients enrolled, 47.0% had a positive BAC and 35.8% were intoxicated (BAC > or = 100 mg/dL) on admission to the emergency department. Intoxicated patients were more likely to be 25 to 34 years old, male, and nonwhite; the highest proportion of intoxicated patients was among victims of stab wounds. Three fourths of acutely intoxicated patients had evidence of chronic alcoholism as indicated by a positive SMAST, and 25% to 35% of acutely intoxicated patients had biochemical evidence of chronic alcohol abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of both acute intoxication and chronic alcoholism in trauma patients indicates the need to diagnose and appropriately treat this pervasive problem in trauma victims.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of acute alcohol intoxication and the proportion of traumapatients with evidence of chronic alcohol abuse. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Regional level I trauma center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 18 years and older admitted with blunt or penetrating trauma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Admission blood alcohol concentrations (BACs), the Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (SMAST), and biochemical markers for chronic alcohol abuse. RESULTS: Of the 2657 patients enrolled, 47.0% had a positive BAC and 35.8% were intoxicated (BAC > or = 100 mg/dL) on admission to the emergency department. Intoxicated patients were more likely to be 25 to 34 years old, male, and nonwhite; the highest proportion of intoxicated patients was among victims of stab wounds. Three fourths of acutely intoxicated patients had evidence of chronic alcoholism as indicated by a positive SMAST, and 25% to 35% of acutely intoxicated patients had biochemical evidence of chronic alcohol abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of both acute intoxication and chronic alcoholism in traumapatients indicates the need to diagnose and appropriately treat this pervasive problem in trauma victims.
Authors: C C H M van Delft-Schreurs; J J M van Bergen; P van de Sande; M H J Verhofstad; J de Vries; M A C de Jongh Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2013-11-08 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Francine Terrell; Douglas F Zatzick; Gregory J Jurkovich; Frederick P Rivara; Dennis M Donovan; Christopher W Dunn; Carol Schermer; Jay Wayne Meredith; Larry M Gentilello Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2008-07-14 Impact factor: 6.113