Alcohol-related hospitalizations of adult motorcycle riders

OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of the demographic characteristics of adult motorcycle riders with alcohol-related hospitalizations. METHODS: Data obtained from the Trauma Registry System were retrospectively reviewed for trauma admissions at a level I trauma center between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013. Out of 16,548 registered patients, detailed information was retrieved regarding 1,430 (8.64%) adult motorcycle riders who underwent a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test. A BAC level of 50 mg/dL was defined as the cut-off value for alcohol intoxication. RESULTS: In this study, alcohol consumption was more frequently noted among male motorcycle riders, those aged 30–49 years, those who had arrived at the hospital in the evening or during the night, and those who did not wear a helmet. Alcohol consumption was associated with a lower percentage of sustained severe injury (injury severity score ≥25) and lower frequencies of specific body injuries, including cerebral contusion (0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.42–0.80), lung contusion (0.5; 95% CI = 0.24–0.90), lumbar vertebral fracture (0.1; 95% CI = 0.01–0.80), humeral fracture (0.5; 95% CI = 0.27–0.90), and radial fracture (0.6; 95% CI = 0.40–0.89). In addition, alcohol-intoxicated motorcycle riders who wore helmets had significantly lower frequencies of cranial fracture (0.4; 95% CI = 0.29–0.67), epidural hematoma (0.5; 95% CI = 0.29–0.79), subdural hematoma (0.4; 95% CI = 0.28–0.64), subarachnoid hemorrhage (0.5; 95% CI = 0.32–0.72), and cerebral contusion (0.4; 95% CI = 0.25–0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Motorcycle riders who consumed alcohol presented different characteristics and bodily injury patterns relative to sober patients, suggesting the importance of helmet use to decrease head injuries in alcohol-intoxicated riders.