title: Latin American Clinical Epidemiology Network Series - Paper 6: The influence of alcohol in traffic accidents and health care costs of it in Bogotá-Colombia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Colombia, some studies have estimated medical costs associated to traffic accidents. It is required to assess results by city or region and determine the influence of variables such as alcohol consumption. The main objective of this study was to identify health care costs associated to traffic accidents in Bogota and determine whether alcohol consumption can increase them.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional costs study conducted in patients over 18 years treated in the emergency rooms of six different hospitals in Bogota, Colombia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average total cost of medical care per patient was 628 USD, in Bogota-Colombia. The average cost per accident was estimated at 1,349 USD. On average, the total cost for health care for patients with positive blood alcohol level was 1.8 times higher than those who did not consume alcohol. The indirect costs were on average 115.3 USD per injured person. Numbers are expressed in 2011 U.S. dollars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol consumption increases the risk of traffic accidents and direct medical health costs.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Kra. 7 No. 40-62 Piso 2, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Kra. 7 No. 40-62 Piso 2, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia. Electronic address: mauricioamrva@hotmail.com.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Gómez-Restrepo
authors: Economics from the Universidad de Los Andes, Research Director of the Road Prevention Fund Corporation, Kra. 1 #18a12, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Salomé
authors: S
authors: Naranjo-Lujan
authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Kra. 7 No. 40-62 Piso 2, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Martín
authors: M
authors: Rondón
authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Kra. 7 No. 40-62 Piso 2, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Acosta
authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Kra. 7 No. 40-62 Piso 2, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Maldonado
authors: Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Kra. 7 No. 40-62, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Arango Villegas
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Centro Politécnico Olaya, Kra. 21 #22-68, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Hurtado
authors: Emergency Room, Clínica del Occidente, Kra. 71c, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Hernández
authors: Emergency Room, Hospital Engativá, Tv. 100a #80A-50, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: María Del Pilar
authors: MDP
authors: Angarita
authors: Emergency Room, Hospital El Tunal, Kra. 22 #42 Sur47, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Marcela
authors: M
authors: Peña
authors: Emergency Room, Hospital de San José, Kra 18, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Miguel Ángel
authors: MÁ
authors: Saavedra
authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Kra. 7 No. 40-62 Piso 2, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia.
authors: Hoover
authors: H
authors: Quitian
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol consumption; Cost of accidents; Health care; Health costs; Productivity; Traffic accident