[Association between drinking patterns and injuries in emergency room in three domestic general hospitals].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between drinking patterns (the volume of drinking and frequency) and injury type (intentional injury and unintentional traffic injury).

METHODS

A total of 1 539 patients (age≥18 years), who were treated for the first time in the emergency room within 6 h after the injury, were included. The American National Institute of Health questionnaire was used to investigate the injury type, time point of drinking, drinking volume, and drinking history in the past years and so on. The case-crossover method and logistic regression was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Comparing with the control, people with alcohol consuming 6 h before the injury showed a higher risk of intentional injury (OR=3.63). Comparing with people without drinking in the past year, subjects who drank alcohol more than once in the past year displayed a higher risk of intentional injury (OR=1.986). Comparing with non-drinkers, subjects who drank alcohol 5-11 standard drinks or 12 and more drinks on one occasion in the past year had a higher risk of intentional injury (OR=1.854 or 1.572). Comparing with the non-drinkers, victims who drank alcohol 6 h before injury had a higher risk of unintentional traffic injury (OR=2.091). Comparing with non-drinkers in the past year, subjects who drank alcohol more than once in the past year had a higher risk of unintentional traffic injuries (OR=1.533). Comparing with the non-drinkers, subjects who drank alcohol 6 h before injury had a higher risk of injury (OR=5.15). Subjects who drank Less than 6 standard drinks, 6-9 standard drinks and more than 9 standard drinks of alcohol 6 h separately before injury had higher risk than non-drinkers (OR=3.83, 8.64 or 9.58).

CONCLUSION

Drinking alcohol before injury is associated with higher risk of intentional injury and unintentional traffic injury. Over the past year, subjects who drank alcohol at least once have higher risk of intentional injuries and unintentional traffic injury. Drinking alcohol 6 h before injury is associated with higher risk of injuries. The risk is increasing with the volume of drinking before injury. The study demonstrates that drinking 6 h before injury and drinking patterns in the past year are closely associated with injuries, which provides scientific evidences for making policy relevant to alcohol consuming.