Complaints about sleep in trauma patients in an emergency department in respect to alcohol use

Abstract

Among other lifestyle problems, sleeping problems have been related to alcohol use. The aim of this study was to evaluate complaints about sleep in trauma patients in an emergency department and its relation to alcohol use disorders (AUD). In an emergency department, trauma patients (1014 females, 1680 males) were screened using a computerized questionnaire addressing AUD (AUD identification test, AUDIT), smoking, drug and medication use, and sleep (presence of difficulties in falling asleep and/or sleeping through). Age, BMI, income, employment, partner status, and "feeling fit" were additionally assessed. An AUDIT score > or = 8 points was found in 24.2% of the males and 8.3% of the females. Complaints about sleep were reported by 28% and 34% of the patients, respectively. These complaints about sleep were more likely in males at-risk drinkers (AUDIT > or = 8 versus 1-4 points (Adjusted odds ratio: AOR = 1.60, P = 0.001) or abstainers (AUDIT = 0 versus 1-4 points, AOR = 1.55, P = 0.029), and with increasing age (AOR = 1.01, P = 0.010), in patients not feeling "fit" (AOR = 2.15, P < 0.001), and users of pain (AOR = 2.24, P < 0.001) and sleep medication (AOR = 8.03, P < 0.001). In females, complaints about sleep were more likely with higher age (AOR = 1.04, P = 0.023), higher BMI (AOR = 1.04, P = 0.023), with not-feeling-fit (AOR = 1.87, P < 0.001) and sleep medication (AOR = 5.24, P < 0.001), and less likely in patients with a higher education (AOR = 0.57, P < 0.001). Complaints about sleep were reported frequently by trauma patients. There was an association between AUDs and sleep complaints (mainly problems about sleeping through) in males, but not in females.