Alcohol and/or benzodiazepine use in injured road users.
Blood samples of all patients (269) involved in a traffic accident and admitted to the Emergency Room of the University Hospital of Trauma Surgery in Innsbruck were analysed for alcohol and benzodiazepines. The large majority were drivers (55%) followed by passengers (19.7%), cyclists (12.6%) and pedestrians (12.3%). Alcohol was obviously the most commonly found drug in all groups (drivers: 36.9%; passengers: 15.1%; cyclists: 29.4%; pedestrians: 18.2%), with a mean BAC (blood alcohol concentration) high above the legal limit at the time of the study in Austria of 0.8 g/l (drivers: 1.49 +/- 54 g/l; passengers: 1.52 +/- 71 g/l; cyclists: 1.72 +/- 51 g/l; pedestrians: 1.67 +/- 25 g/l). The percentage of alcohol users was highest in drivers. Concerning BAC levels no significant differences were found between the groups. The most commonly detected benzodiazepine was diazepam. Benzodiazepine consumption (drivers: 8.1%; passengers: 5.7%; cyclists: 8.8%; pedestrians: 3%) as well as plasma levels (drivers: 68.7 +/- 62.6 microg/l; passengers: 61.0 +/- 69.3 microg/l; cyclists: 135.7 +/- 118.3 microg/l; pedestrians: 18 microg/l) were nearly equal in all groups. Concerning alcohol or benzodiazepine use, females showed lower frequencies of both alcohol and benzodiazepine positive blood samples. The frequency of alcohol use was higher in patients <or= 60 years of age.
Kurzthaler
Ilsemarie
I
Innsbruck University Clinics, Department of Biological Psychiatry, Innsbruck, Austria. ilsemarie.kurzthaler@uibk.ac.at
Wambacher
Markus
M
Golser
Karl
K
Sperner
Gernot
G
Sperner-Unterweger
Barbara
B
Haidekker
Alexander
A
Pavlic
Marion
M
Kemmler
Georg
G
Fleischhacker
W Wolfgang
WW
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014947:Wounds and Injuries
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines