Trauma Patterns in Patients Attending the Emergency Department in Saudi Arabia Following the Impact of Alcohol Consumption on the Trauma Patterns and Its Outcomes in Patients

Abstract

Background: Alcohol consumption is a common risk factor for traumatic injuries, and its effect on the clinical outcomes of trauma patients remains controversial. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of alcohol on the outcomes of Saudi Arabian trauma patients. Methods: This is a prospective descriptive study conducted over a period of three years, from January 2020 to February 2023. Any adult aged 16 years or above who required emergency care due to any type of trauma was included. Patients were divided into two groups based on alcohol use. We compared demographic characteristics, injury mechanisms, clinical variables, interventions, and outcomes between the two groups. Results: There were 560 patients who reported alcohol consumption and 2590 patients who did not consume alcohol. The alcohol group had higher SBP (p<0.001), lower RR (p<0.001), lower HR (p<0.001), and higher lactate levels (p=0.032). They also had a longer hospital length of stay (10 vs. 7 days, p<0.001), more ventilator days (7 vs. 4 days, p<0.001), higher rates of surgical treatment (44% vs 18%, p<0.001), and higher mortality rates (8% vs. 3%, p<0.001) compared to the non-alcohol group. Conclusion: Our study suggests that alcohol use in patients with trauma is associated with worse clinical outcomes, including longer hospital stays, higher rates of surgical treatment, and increased mortality. These findings have significant implications for clinical practice in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the importance of efforts to limit alcohol intake among Saudi Arabians.