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Incidence of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injuries after reduction in alcohol prices
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 07/03/2012
Puljula J et al. – The reduction in alcohol prices and the concomitant increase in alcohol consumption did not increase the incidence of alcohol–related moderate–to–severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Methods- The authors identified all residents of Northern Ostrobothia with acute moderate-to-severe TBI admitted to Oulu University Hospital in 1999 and in 2007 as well as those who died on the scene without being admitted to the hospital.
- Alcohol involvement was recorded by similar methods and equally often during both years.
- Incidence rates were calculated as number of subjects per 100,000 population.
- Logistic regression was performed to determine which factors predicted fatal TBI and associated with alcohol-related TBI.
- No significant increase from 1999 to 2007 occurred in the incidence of alcohol-related moderate-to-severe TBIs among the population of Northern Ostrobothnia.
- The total number of alcohol-related TBIs were 61/135 (45.2%) in 2007 and 52/126 (41.3%) 1999.
- Fall-related TBIs were more frequent in 2007 than in 1999.
- Alcohol and older age predicted fatal outcome.
- Alcohol was significantly (P < 0.001) more often present in fatal TBIs (83/156, 53.2%) than in non-fatal TBIs (30/105, 28.6%).
- Male sex, fall, suicide, and assault significantly associated with alcohol-related TBI.