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. 2015 Jan 7;10(1):2.
doi: 10.1186/1749-7922-10-2. eCollection 2015.

Alcohol-related hospitalizations of adult motorcycle riders

Hang-Tsung Liu  1 , Chi-Cheng Liang  1 , Cheng-Shyuan Rau  2 , Shiun-Yuan Hsu  1 , Ching-Hua Hsieh  1
Affiliations

Alcohol-related hospitalizations of adult motorcycle riders

Hang-Tsung Liu et al. World J Emerg Surg. .

Abstract

Objective: To provide an overview of the demographic characteristics of adult motorcycle riders with alcohol-related hospitalizations.

Methods: Data 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.

Results: In 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).

Conclusions: Motorcycle 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.

Keywords: Blood alcohol concentration (BAC); Helmet; Injury severity score (ISS); Motorcycle; Trauma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Odds ratio (OR) of associated injuries in the adult motorcycle riders with positive or negative BAC.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Odds ratio (OR) of associated injuries in the alcohol-intoxicated adult motorcycle riders with or without helmet-wearing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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