Background: Alcohol misuse is an important source of preventable injuries in the adolescent population. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of alcohol in adolescent trauma outcomes.
Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB). Adolescent patients (12-18 years) who were tested for alcohol were included in the analysis. Outcome measures were difference in complications and mortality between the two groups.
Results: A total of 31,923 adolescent trauma patients were tested for alcohol; 21% (n = 6,704) of whom tested positive for alcohol. Propensity-matched analysis revealed that adolescent patients with alcohol use were more likely to have adult respiratory distress syndrome (10% vs. 6%, p = 0.001), pneumonia (31% vs. 24%, p = 0.01), and thromboembolic complications (30% vs. 20%, p = 0.001) during their hospitalization. The mortality rate was higher in adolescent trauma patients who tested positive for alcohol (15% vs. 9%, p = 0.04).
Conclusion: Alcohol use is associated with significant consequences in adolescent population. Our study highlights the increasing use of alcohol in adolescent trauma patients. Strict screening criteria in adolescent trauma patients are warranted.
Level of evidence: Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.