Drunk drivers and in road traffic accidents: association between alcohol levels and trauma scores

Background: A significant person-related cause of accidents is driving under the influence of alcohol. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between blood ethanol levels and trauma scores of drivers brought to the emergency department due to traffic accidents. Methods: The study was designed as a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital. Drivers brought to the emergency department due to traffic accidents (motor vehicles: car-motorcycle) were included in the study. The patients’ New Injury Severity Score (NISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) trauma scores were calculated and their relationship with ethanol level was investigated. Results: 501 patients were included in the study. 31.5% of all patients were hospitalized in the ward and 4.8% in the intensive care unit. 57.3% of the drivers were motorcyclists and 42.7% were in cars. 31.1% of the patients had an alcohol level above 0.5 promil, which is the legal limit in Turkiye. The NISS trauma score with high ethanol levels was higher than the patient group with low ethanol levels, and TRISS were low and showed significant differences. TRISS score was more predictive, sensitive and specific than NISS in terms of hospitalization (Area Under Curve (AUC): 0.93, Sensitivity: 92%, Specificity: 77% p < 0.001). In the multivariate model, NISS, TRISS, and lactate levels were significant predictors of admission (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.008, Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.158, OR = 5.014, OR = 0.375 respectively). The hospital stay was longer in the group with high ethanol levels (p = 0.005). Conclusions: In parallel with the worsening trauma scores of drivers involved in traffic accidents under the influence of alcohol, hospitalization rates and treatment durations increase.

Traffic accidents; Ethanol levels; Trauma scores

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