Relationships among premorbid alcohol use, acute intoxication, and early functional status after traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationships among intoxication at time of injury, preinjury history of problem drinking, and early functional status in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Acute inpatient TBI rehabilitation.


METHODS
Participants were 1748 persons with TBI.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Blood alcohol levels (BALs) were obtained at admission to the emergency department, and a history of problem drinking was obtained through interview. Study outcomes, Disability Rating Scale (DRS), and FIM instrument scores were gathered at admission to inpatient rehabilitation.


RESULTS
Multivariate regression analysis revealed that BAL and a history of binge drinking were predictive of DRS, but not FIM, scores. A higher BAL was associated with poorer functional status on the DRS. Paradoxically, a history of binge drinking was associated with more intact functional status on the DRS.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationships among intoxication at time of injury, history of problem drinking, and early outcome after TBI were modest. Injury severity had a more significant association with TBI functional status.
Vickery
Chad D
CD
Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. cvickery@mmrcrehab.org
Sherer
Mark
M
Nick
Todd G
TG
Nakase-Richardson
Risa
R
Corrigan
John D
JD
Hammond
Flora
F
Macciocchi
Stephen
S
Ripley
David L
DL
Sander
Angelle
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome