The relationship between alcohol consumption and injury in ED trauma patients

Yoonhee, Choi; Kooyoung, Jung; Eunkyung, Eo; Donghoon, Lee; Junsig, Kim; Dongwun, Shin; Sungeun, Kim; Mijin, Lee

doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2008.07.035

« Previous Next »American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume 27, Issue 8 , Pages 956-960, October 2009

The relationship between alcohol consumption and injury in ED trauma patients

Yoonhee Choi, MD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Eulji University, Seoul, South Korea
Kooyoung Jung, MD, PhD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ewha Women's University, Seoul, South Korea
- Corresponding author. Ehwa Women's University Hospital, Jongno 6(yuk)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-783, South Korea. Tel.: +82 2 760 5452, +82 11 9880 5296 (Mobile).
Eunkyung Eo, MD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ewha Women's University, Seoul, South Korea
Donghoon Lee, MD
- Fire Department, Daegu, South Korea
Junsig Kim, MD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
Dongwun Shin, MD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, South Korea
Sungeun Kim, MD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inje University, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Mijin Lee, MD
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Catholic University, Seoul, South Korea

Received 12 December 2007; received in revised form 30 July 2008; accepted 30 July 2008.

Abstract

Background

Alcohol-related injuries are significantly more serious than non–alcohol-related injuries. However, there have been few data on the relationship between alcohol consumption and injury in the Korea. This study was designed to determine the absence or presence of alcohol consumption at the time of injury and the relationship between the quantity of alcohol and the extent of injury.

Materials and Methods

The study subjects consisted of trauma patients aged 15 years or older with the emergency department admission at 5 emergency medical centers. With the informed consent, patients were screened using the questionnaire and blood alcohol concentration. The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to the blood alcohol concentration level: the nonintoxicated and intoxicated groups. The demographic characteristics, cause of injury, injury severity, and length of hospitalization were compared between the 2 groups.

Results

Of a total of 407 cases, there were 123 cases in the intoxicated group and 284 cases in the nonintoxicated group. As to the severity of injury, an Abbreviated Injury Scale was significantly higher in the head and face. Injury Severity Score was higher in intoxicated group with marginal statistical significance. There was no significant difference in the total length of hospitalization, but the length of intensive care unit admission was significantly longer in the intoxicated group than in the nonintoxicated group.

Conclusion

There may be no significant correlation between alcohol consumption and injury severity. However, injury severity may increase with increasing quantity of alcohol and be greater in head injuries.