OBJECTIVE: A case-control study was carried out with the aim of assessing the association between the levels of blood alcohol in drivers and traffic accident rate. METHODS: 150 cases of drivers injured in traffic accident were obtained, treated at the Emergency Medical Services of the Hospital Comarcal of Tudela (Navarre) and whose alcohol level in blood was determined with the ADX technique and compared to the 648 controls from a representative sample among the drivers from the area, whose alcohol level in exhaled air was assessed with a digital alcoholometer. The research was carried out in the period between 1 May, 1990 and 30 April, 1991. RESULTS: In the injured drivers. (cases) the prevalence of blood alcohol levels equal or over 50 mg/dl was 36.6%, compared to 6.9% in controls. The odds ratio for blood alcohol levels equal or over 50 mg/dl. compared to levels below 50 mg/dl was 7.5.
OBJECTIVE: A case-control study was carried out with the aim of assessing the association between the levels of blood alcohol in drivers and traffic accident rate. METHODS: 150 cases of drivers injured in traffic accident were obtained, treated at the Emergency Medical Services of the Hospital Comarcal of Tudela (Navarre) and whose alcohol level in blood was determined with the ADX technique and compared to the 648 controls from a representative sample among the drivers from the area, whose alcohol level in exhaled air was assessed with a digital alcoholometer. The research was carried out in the period between 1 May, 1990 and 30 April, 1991. RESULTS: In the injured drivers. (cases) the prevalence of blood alcohol levels equal or over 50 mg/dl was 36.6%, compared to 6.9% in controls. The odds ratio for blood alcohol levels equal or over 50 mg/dl. compared to levels below 50 mg/dl was 7.5.