Alcohol and benzodiazepines in falls: An epidemiological view

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• 作者：Kurzthaler ; Ilsemarie ; Wambacher ; Markus ; Golser ; Karl ; Sperner ; Gernot ; Sperner-Unterweger ; Barbara ; et. al.
• 关键词：Alcohol ; Benzodiazepines ; Falls ; Injury ; Epidemiology ; Trauma
• 刊名：Drug and Alcohol Dependence
• 出版年：2005
• 期刊代码：81_03768716
• 类别：med
• 出版时间：August 1, 2005
• 卷：79
• 期：2
• 页码：225-230
• 文件大小：77.4 K

摘要

Falls are common at all ages and especially in the elderly; it is important to understand contributing causes. Over a 1-year period we studied blood alcohol (BAC) and benzodiazepine concentrations in patients attending an emergency department because of a fall. The 22%of 615 patients tested were positive for alcohol, 55%were positive for benzodiazepines (BZD) and 1.5%were positive for both substances.

A significantly larger proportion of males tested positive for alcohol (40.2%) than females (7.6%). Both in males and females the percentage as well as the extent of blood alcohol levels decreased significantly with age.

Benzodiazepines were also consumed more frequently in males (8.5%) than in females (3.2%, p = 0.007).

Concerning BAC there was no difference between males (1.75 ± 0.81 g/l) and females (1.66 ± 0.91 g/l). In patients older than 70 years the BAC (1.30 ± 0.80 g/l) was lower in comparison to younger ones.

All blood samples positive for benzodiazepines could be traced back to diazepam consumption.

We found a high number of young and middle aged patients using alcohol (males = 49.7%; females = 18.9%) and a lower but still relevant number of benzodiazepine users (males = 9.5%; females = 2.4%). In addition, this study shows that alcohol plays a more important role in patients up to 70 years in fall-related accidents when compared to accidents of other causes.