Relationships among pemorbid alcohol use, acute intoxication, and early functional status after traumatic brain injury

Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Accession No.:

Journal:

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2008 , 89, 1, 48-55

Publication Website:

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships among intoxication at time of injury, pre-injury history of problem drinking, and early functional status in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Acute inpatient TBI rehabilitation.

PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 1748 persons with TBI.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood alcohol levels (BALs) were obtained at admission to the emergency department, and a history of problem drinking was obtained through interview. Study outcomes, Disability Rating Scale (DRS), and FIM instrument scores were gathered at admission to inpatient rehabilitation.

RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis revealed that BAL and a history of binge drinking were predictive of DRS, but not FIM, scores. A higher BAL was associated with poorer functional status on the DRS. Paradoxically, a history of binge drinking was associated with more intact functional status on the DRS.

CONCLUSIONS: The relationships among intoxication at time of injury, history of problem drinking, and early outcome after TBI were modest. Injury severity had a more significant association with TBI functional status.

Author(s):

Vickery, C., Sherer, M., Nick, T., Nakase-Richardson, R., Corrigan, J., Hammond, F., Macciocchi, Ripley, D., Sander, A.