Attributable risk of injury associated with alcohol use: cross-national data from the emergency room collaborative alcohol analysis project.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine gender- and age-specific attributable risks of all-cause and violence-related injuries associated with alcohol use.


METHODS
We used meta-analytic techniques to estimate attributable risks observed in emergency room studies conducted in 7 countries (n=17708).


RESULTS
In the case of both alcohol consumption before the injury event and individual drinking patterns, pooled attributable risk effect sizes for all-cause injuries were significant but minimal (2% to 6%). Effect sizes for violence-related injuries were 43% for drinking before an injury event and 27% for individual drinking pattern. Risks were greater for men, but no age-specific differences were found.


CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis showed that attributable risk of injury is greater for drinking before the injury event than for drinking pattern; in addition, risks were more pronounced for violence-related injuries. Differences in risk were explained by variables related to sociocultural contexts.
Cherpitel
Cheryl J
CJ
Alcohol Research Group, 2000 Hearst Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA. ccherpitel@arg.org
Ye
Yu
Y
Bond
Jason
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology