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Association of self-reported injury and alcohol consumption in medical outpatients
M C Burger1, M J Lichtenstein, J T Hays
1Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-5305.
Objective:
This study was designed to examine the association between minor injury and level of alcohol consumption among adult outpatients.
Design:
Self-administered survey of alcohol use and level of injury in prior month.
Setting:
Adult outpatients attending a university-based general internal medicine private practice.
Patients/Participants:
During a four-month period, 1,011 patients aged 18-65 years were asked to complete questionnaires while waiting to see a physician. The 791 who completed all forms appropriately are included in this study.
Intervention:
None.
Measurements And Main Results:
The total number of drinks and the total number of injuries reported during the preceding month were calculated. Nondrinkers reported an average of 0.51 (SD = 1.18) injuries in the prior month; and drinkers, 0.92 (SD = 1.70) injuries. Minor injuries were reported more frequently by heavier alcohol consumers only among younger patients (RR = 1.88). There was no association between reported injury and alcohol consumption among patients over 50 years of age (RR = 0.90).
Conclusions:
Minor injury is associated with heavier alcohol consumption in younger patients attending a general medical practice, but not among older patients. Further research is needed to establish a causal relationship between alcohol drinking and minor injury.