Injury-related medical care utilization in a problem drinking population.

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Population-based data on the overall risk of injury among problem drinkers are extremely limited. METHODS. We conducted an eight-year study of injury-related medical care utilization for a group of problem drinkers (n = 3 729) enrolled in the health insurance plan of a large manufacturing firm with plants in a number of midwestern states. A comparison non-problem drinking cohort matched on age, gender, and number of years of enrollment with the same company plan was also utilized. RESULTS. Problem drinkers utilized injury-related medical care at a rate 1.6 times that of the comparison group and experienced injury-related medical care costs which were three times as high. Increased risks were found for both men and women and for all ages studied. CONCLUSIONS. This study is one of the few to examine the overall incidence of fatal and non-fatal injuries among a large population of problem drinkers and provides evidence that higher medical care costs are associated with chronic alcohol use.

Health care utilization of carpenters with substance abuse‐related diagnoses

“…The cost ratios were very similar to the rate ratios, and the excess cost fractions among those with ASRD were much lower than through the trust. Problem drinkers have been reported to have higher injury-related costs than those who drink sensibly due in part to their propensity for more serious injuries [Blose and Holder, 1991;Blake et al, 1997], and individuals who experience alcohol-related injuries are more likely to be readmitted for subsequent injuries compared to people without alcohol-related injuries [Rivara et al, 1993]. Our findings among those with ASRD of higher rates of admissions and higher cost ratios for non-occupational injury are consistent with these reports.…”

Validity of Self‐Reported Alcohol Consumption in Nondependent Drinkers With Unintentional Injuries

“…Blose and Holder (1991) found that problem drinkers had an average of 1.32 injury-related medical events per year compared with an overall annual rate of 0.38 found in the National Health Survey (DDHS, 1986). In an ED population, Cherpitel (1994b)found that 19% of the men and 8% of the women reported prior alcohol-related injury at some time in their lives.…”

Injury Risk Among Medically Identified Alcohol and Drug Abusers

“…We built from Blose and Holder's (1991) approach but counted injury episodes rather than simply utilization of services as measured by injury visits. We built from Blose and Holder's (1991) approach but counted injury episodes rather than simply utilization of services as measured by injury visits.…”