Jagtiani Pemla, Young Tirone, Ahmed Wasil, Devarajan Alex, Hickman Zachary L, Jones Salazar
School of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Queens, USA.
Medical School, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
Cureus. 2024 Apr 24;16(4):e58928. doi: 10.7759/cureus.58928. eCollection 2024 Apr.
Background This study investigates the impact of New York's relaxed alcohol consumption policies during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on alcohol-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among patients admitted to a Level 1 trauma center in Queens. Given the limited research available, this study critically explores the link between public health policies and trauma care. It aims to address a significant gap in the literature and highlight the implications of alcohol regulations during global health emergencies. Methodology A retrospective analysis was conducted among trauma patients from 2019 to 2021. The study period was divided into the following three periods: pre-lockdown (March 7, 2019, to July 31, 2019), lockdown (March 7, 2020, to July 31, 2020), and post-lockdown (March 7, 2021, to July 31, 2021). Data on demographics, injury severity, comorbidities, and outcomes were collected. The study focused on assessing the correlation between New York's alcohol policies and alcohol-related TBI admissions during these periods. Results A total of 1,074 admissions were analyzed. The study found no significant changes in alcohol-positive patients over the full calendar years of 2019, 2020, and 2021 (42.65%, 38.91%, and 31.16% respectively; p = 0.08711). Specifically, during the lockdown period, rates of alcohol-positive TBI patients remained unchanged, despite the relaxed alcohol policies. There was a decrease in alcohol-related TBI admissions in 2021 compared to 2020 during the lockdown period. Conclusions Our study concludes that New York's specific alcohol policies during the COVID-19 pandemic were not correlated with an increase in alcohol-related TBI admissions. Despite the relaxation of alcohol consumption laws, there was no increase in alcohol positivity among TBI patients. The findings suggest a complex relationship between public policies, alcohol use, and trauma during pandemic conditions, indicating that factors other than policy relaxation might influence alcohol-related trauma incidences.
背景 本研究调查了纽约在冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间放宽酒精消费政策对皇后区一家一级创伤中心收治患者中与酒精相关的创伤性脑损伤（TBI）的影响。鉴于现有研究有限，本研究批判性地探讨了公共卫生政策与创伤护理之间的联系。其目的是填补文献中的一个重大空白，并突出全球卫生紧急情况期间酒精管制的影响。方法 对2019年至2021年的创伤患者进行了回顾性分析。研究期分为以下三个阶段：封锁前（2019年3月7日至2019年7月31日）、封锁期（2020年3月7日至2020年7月31日）和封锁后（2021年3月7日至2021年7月31日）。收集了人口统计学、损伤严重程度、合并症和结局的数据。该研究重点评估纽约酒精政策与这些时期内与酒精相关的TBI入院之间的相关性。结果 共分析了1074例入院病例。研究发现，在2019年、2020年和2021年全年，酒精检测呈阳性的患者没有显著变化（分别为42.65%、38.91%和31.16%；p = 0.08711）。具体而言，在封锁期间，尽管酒精政策有所放宽，但酒精检测呈阳性的TBI患者比例保持不变。与2020年相比，2021年封锁期间与酒精相关的TBI入院病例有所减少。结论 我们的研究得出结论，纽约在COVID-19大流行期间的特定酒精政策与与酒精相关的TBI入院病例增加无关。尽管放宽了酒精消费法律，但TBI患者中的酒精阳性率并未增加。研究结果表明，大流行期间公共政策、酒精使用和创伤之间存在复杂关系，这表明除政策放宽外的其他因素可能会影响与酒精相关的创伤发生率。
