Assessment of current alcoholism rates among vehicular and non-vehicular patients admitted to a Level I regional trauma center

Soderstrom, Carl A.; Kerns, Timothy J.; Ho, Shiu M.; Dischinger, Patricia C.; Read, Kathleen M.; Smith, Gordon S.

Affiliations

¹Department of Surgery & Traumatology, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland USA

²Charles McC. Mathias, Jr., National Study Center for Trauma and Emergency Medical Systems, Baltimore, Maryland

³The Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, Baltimore, Maryland

Abstract

A structured in-depth interview employing standardized criteria was used to determine the prevalence of lifetime and current alcohol dependence (alcoholism) in unselected consecutive patients admitted to a regional Level I trauma center. Of 629 patients, 157, or 25.0% overall, were current alcoholics at the time of injury. An additional 87 (13.8%) were diagnosed as lifetime non-current alcoholics. There was no significant difference in the rates of current alcohol dependence among patients injured in vehicular crashes (23.5%), other unintentional trauma victims (29.3%), and those injured as a result of violence (24.6%). Of BAC+ (blood alcohol concentration positive) patients, 54.5% were current alcoholics. However, 14.4% of alcohol-negative patients were also diagnosed as alcohol dependent.

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Cited By (1)

Year	Entry
1997	Soderstrom CA, Dischinger PC, Kerns TJ, Kufera JA, Smith GS. Alcohol use disorders identification test questions to screen trauma patients for alcoholism according to suggested guidelines. In: 41st Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). November 10-11, 1997; Orlando, FL.63-77.