@article{ref1,
title="The magnitude of acute and chronic alcohol abuse in trauma patients",
journal="Archives of surgery (1960)",
year="1993",
author="Copass, M. and Raisys, V. A. and Ries, R. and Fligner, C. L. and Seguin, D. and Gurney, J. G. and Jurkovich, Gregory J. and Rivara, Frederick P.",
volume="128",
number="8",
pages="907-12; discussion 912",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of acute alcohol intoxication and the proportion of trauma patients with evidence of chronic alcohol abuse. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Regional level I trauma center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 18 years and older admitted with blunt or penetrating trauma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Admission blood alcohol concentrations (BACs), the Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (SMAST), and biochemical markers for chronic alcohol abuse. RESULTS: Of the 2,657 patients enrolled, 47.0% had a positive BAC and 35.8% were intoxicated (BAC > or = 100 mg/dL) on admission to the emergency department. Intoxicated patients were more likely to be 25 to 34 years old, male, and nonwhite; the highest proportion of intoxicated patients was among victims of stab wounds. Three fourths of acutely intoxicated patients had evidence of chronic alcoholism as indicated by a positive SMAST, and 25% to 35% of acutely intoxicated patients had biochemical evidence of chronic alcohol abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of both acute intoxication and chronic alcoholism in trauma patients indicates the need to diagnose and appropriately treat this pervasive problem in trauma victims.",
language="",
issn="0004-0010",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}