Acute Alcohol Use and Injury Patterns in Young Adult Prehospital Patients

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Trauma Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Young adults are a vulnerable population for traumatic injuries.
• Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for various injuries.
• Understanding injury patterns associated with acute alcohol use is crucial for targeted prevention and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between acute alcohol consumption and injury patterns in young adults presenting to emergency medical services (EMS).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of prehospital patient care reports (PCRs) from a collegiate EMS agency (2011-2012).
• Analysis included 440 injured patients aged 18-24 years.
• Data on alcohol use, injury site, and Revised Trauma Score (RTS) were collected and analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• 30.6% of injured patients had documented acute alcohol use.
• Alcohol consumption was associated with altered regional injury patterns (p < 0.001).
• Alcohol users were more likely to sustain injuries from assault, falls, or unknown mechanisms (p < 0.001).
• Acute alcohol use predicted a 5.59-fold increased risk of head/neck injury (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Acute alcohol use in young adults presenting to EMS is linked to distinct injury patterns.
• There is a significantly increased risk of head and neck injuries among young adults who consumed alcohol prior to injury.
• EMS providers should be aware of these associations when assessing and treating college-aged patients with traumatic injuries.