Comparative study of the impact of intoxication on injuries in china and Korea.
OBJECTIVE
Alcohol misuse has been widely studied as a substantial contributor to injured patients' visits to emergency departments. The current research studied differences in alcohol-related injury variables in China and Korea.


METHODS
Data were collected from a sample of 4,509 patients (2,862 males and 1,667 females) reporting at emergency departments in China and Korea using the World Health Organization collaborative study on alcohol and injuries protocol.


RESULTS
More injuries were reported by men, young people aged 25-34 years, employed individuals, and persons who had at least a high-school education. The proportion of injury cases among intoxicated patients was 14% for Chinese and 20% for Koreans. The odds of intentional injuries to intoxicated patients increased significantly when the perpetrator had been drinking, especially for severely intoxicated victims in both countries. The odds of injuries for intoxicated persons in both countries were high during sports and leisure activities; odds ratio (OR) = 3.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.76-5.59 for Chinese and OR = 10.97, 95% CI = 6.06-19.85 for Koreans.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are a contribution to research in the two Asian countries about the effect of intoxication on injuries especially when both victim and perpetrator are intoxicated.
Department of Health-Bio Convergence Science, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea ; Korean Institute on Alcohol Problems, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea.
Lydia Sarponmaa
LS
Asante
Department of Health Management, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea ; Korean Institute on Alcohol Problems, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea.
Maxine
M
Newell
Korean Institute on Alcohol Problems, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Public Health, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea.
Mieun
M
Yun
Korean Institute on Alcohol Problems, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Public Health, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea.
Sunmee
S
Yun-Welch
Department of Health-Bio Convergence Science, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Health Management, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea ; Korean Institute on Alcohol Problems, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea ; Department of Public Health, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea.
Sungsoo
S
Chun
Western Pacific; alcohol intoxication; injury; intoxicated perpetrator