MALE DRINKING AND VIOLENCE-RELATED INJURY IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM

Aims. To present epidemiological measures of associations between viol ence-related injuries (assaults and fights), alcohol consumption prior to the event, and drinking patterns among males attending hospital em ergency rooms (ERs) in Mexico City. Design. All patients were intervie wed and breath tested for alcohol consumption. The data were analyzed using a case-control design. Setting. Eight ERs in Mexico City that we re representative of the types of emergency care systems available in that city (from public, private and social security systems hospitals) . Participants. Cases were males patients (n = 445) admitted to the ER because of a fight or an assault. The control group was comprised of patients (n = 320) admitted to the ER because of accidents that are le ss frequently reported as alcohol-related (i.e. work-place accidents, animal bites or recreational accidents excluding near drowning). Measu rements. A breath Sample to estimate BAG, as well as an interviewer-ad ministered questionnaire were used. Findings. Alcohol consumption prio r to injury was found to be a more important risk factor than usual dr inking for injuries resulting from violence, while quantity of usual a lcohol consumption was more predictive of violence-related injuries th an frequency of drinking. Conclusions. These data suggest the importan ce of using more appropriate control groups when estimating associatio ns of alcohol and violence-related injuries so that associations will not be underestimated. More research is needed to establish unbiased e stimates of alcohol-related violence.