Alcohol consumption, risk of injury, and high-cost medical care

J Behav Health Serv Res. 2005 Oct-Dec;32(4):368-80. doi: 10.1007/BF02384198.

Abstract

This study examined the effect of alcohol use on the probabilities of injury, inpatient hospital stay, and emergency department visit. Data were obtained from a sample of adults (N = 1219) recruited from a Northern California county. Alcohol use measures included number of drinks, heavy drinking days, and an indicator variable for problem drinking. Models were estimated for men and women separately while controlling for confounders. Results indicate that most alcohol use measures were not significantly related to injury probability or medical care utilization. Among the exceptions, problem drinking was a significant positive predictor of any emergency department visit for both sexes. When drinkers during the past year were divided into light, moderate, and heavy drinking groups and compared to lifetime abstainers, all male drinkers had a higher probability of injury, and light and moderate female drinkers had a lower probability of an emergency department visit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Alcohol Drinking / economics*
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / economics*
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • California
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / economics*
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Admission / economics*
  • Patient Admission / statistics & numerical data
  • Probability
  • Risk
  • Sex Factors
  • Wounds and Injuries / economics*
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology