Alcohol-related hospitalizations of adult motorcycle riders.

Hang-Tsung Liu,Shiun-Yuan Hsu,Cheng-Shyuan Rau,Chi-Cheng Liang,Ching-Hua Hsieh

doi:10.1186/1749-7922-10-2

Abstract

ObjectiveTo provide an overview of the demographic characteristics of adult motorcycle riders with alcohol-related hospitalizations.MethodsData obtained from the Trauma Registry System were retrospectively reviewed for trauma admissions at a level I trauma center between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013. Out of 16,548 registered patients, detailed information was retrieved regarding 1,430 (8.64%) adult motorcycle riders who underwent a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test. A BAC level of 50 mg/dL was defined as the cut-off value for alcohol intoxication.ResultsIn this study, alcohol consumption was more frequently noted among male motorcycle riders, those aged 30–49 years, those who had arrived at the hospital in the evening or during the night, and those who did not wear a helmet. Alcohol consumption was associated with a lower percentage of sustained severe injury (injury severity score ≥25) and lower frequencies of specific body injuries, including cerebral contusion (0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.42–0.80), lung contusion (0.5; 95% CI = 0.24–0.90), lumbar vertebral fracture (0.1; 95% CI = 0.01–0.80), humeral fracture (0.5; 95% CI = 0.27–0.90), and radial fracture (0.6; 95% CI = 0.40–0.89). In addition, alcohol-intoxicated motorcycle riders who wore helmets had significantly lower frequencies of cranial fracture (0.4; 95% CI = 0.29–0.67), epidural hematoma (0.5; 95% CI = 0.29–0.79), subdural hematoma (0.4; 95% CI = 0.28–0.64), subarachnoid hemorrhage (0.5; 95% CI = 0.32–0.72), and cerebral contusion (0.4; 95% CI = 0.25–0.78).ConclusionsMotorcycle riders who consumed alcohol presented different characteristics and bodily injury patterns relative to sober patients, suggesting the importance of helmet use to decrease head injuries in alcohol-intoxicated riders.

Highlights

Motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable road participants who are exposed to severe and often fatal injuries
Detailed patient information was retrieved from the Trauma Registry System of our institution and included the following variables: age, gender, vital signs upon admission, arrival time at the hospital, injury mechanism, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels upon arrival, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), abbreviated injury scale (AIS) of each body region, injury severity score (ISS), new injury severity score (NISS), trauma-injury severity score (TRISS), associated injuries, length of hospital stay (LOS), length of intensive care unit stay (LICUS), and inhospital mortality rate
We focused on accidents associated with helmet use among motorcycle riders with a positive BAC (Table 5)

Summary

Introduction

Motorcyclists are extremely vulnerable road participants who are exposed to severe and often fatal injuries They are reportedly 8 times more likely to be injured per vehicle mile and 35 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash than are automobile passengers [1]. These findings are of particular concern because the average age of motorcyclists is increasing [2]. 60% and 40% of car and motorcycle driver fatalities, respectively, involved alcohol consumption [9], which even at doses as low as 10–40 mg/dL can impair driving performance [10]. The risk of involvement in a fatal accident increases exponentially with the driver’s BAC level [11]

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Conclusion