Association between alcohol screening results and hospitalizations for trauma in Veterans Affairs outpatients.

Background: Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for traumatic injury, but it is unknown whether responses to alcohol screening questionnaires administered routinely in primary care are associated with subsequent hospitalization for traumatic injury.

Objective: We evaluated the association between alcohol screening scores and the risk for subsequent hospitalizations for trauma among Veterans Affairs (VA) general medicine patients.

Method: This study included VA outpatients (n = 32,623) at seven sites who returned mailed surveys (1997-1999). Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT-C) scores grouped patients into six drinking categories representing nondrinkers, screen-negative drinkers, and drinkers who screened positive for mild, moderate, severe, and very severe alcohol misuse (scores 0, 1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-12, respectively). VA administrative and Medicare data identified primary discharge diagnoses for trauma. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk of trauma-related hospitalization for each drinking group adjusted for demographics, smoking, and comorbidity.

Results: Compared with screen-negative drinkers, patients with severe and very severe alcohol misuse (AUDIT-C 8-9 and ≥10) were at significantly increased risk for trauma-related hospitalization over the follow-up period (adjusted hazard ratios AUDIT-C: 8-9 2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31- 3.24 and AUDIT-C≥10 2.13, 95% CI 1.32-3.42).

Conclusions: Patients with severe and very severe alcohol misuse had a twofold increased risk of hospital admission for trauma compared to drinkers without alcohol misuse.

Scientific Significance: Alcohol screening scores could be used to provide feedback to patients regarding risk of trauma-related hospitalization. Findings could be used by providers during brief alcohol-related interventions with patients with alcohol misuse.