TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1993//
TI  - The magnitude of acute and chronic alcohol abuse in trauma patients
JO  - Archives of surgery (1960)
A1  - Copass, M.
A1  - Raisys, V. A.
A1  - Ries, R.
A1  - Fligner, C. L.
A1  - Seguin, D.
A1  - Gurney, J. G.
A1  - Jurkovich, Gregory J.
A1  - Rivara, Frederick P.
SP  - 907
EP  - 12; discussion 912
VL  - 128
IS  - 8
N2  - 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.
LA  - 
SN  - 0004-0010
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -