Citation

Waller PF, Hansen AR, Stewart JR, Popkin CL, Rodgman EA. Annu. Proc. Assoc. Adv. Automot. Med. 1989; 33: 1-16.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examined 1397 patients, both admitted and non-admitted, presenting to a Level 1 Trauma Center for treatment of motor vehicle injury. Crash reports were obtained for all patients in the analyses, and most had objective measures of BAC. For non-admitted patients alcohol impairment was strongly associated with greater injury, taking into account crash severity. For admitted patients relationships were much less clear, although medical evidence of chronic alcohol use was associated with higher current BAC, higher ISS, and lower Trauma Scores. Chronic alcohol use was also associated with greater probability of hospital admission. Implications of the results are discussed.