Self-reported risk-taking behaviors and hospitalization for motor vehicle injury among active duty army personnel

Background: Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury in the Army . Behaviors increasing risk for motor vehicle crashes are also prevalent, b ut research has not linked these behaviors directly to injury outcomes (e.g ., hospitalizations). Methods: To evaluate the relationship between behavior and motor vehicle cr ash injuries, 99,981 Army personnel who completed Health Risk Appraisal sur veys in 1992 were followed for up to 6 years. Cox proportional hazards mode ling was used to evaluate speeding, seat belt use, drinking patterns, and d emographics. Results: A total of 429 soldiers were hospitalized for motor vehicle injury . Unadjusted analyses revealed that heavy drinking, drinking and driving, s peeding, low seat belt use, younger age, minority race/ethnicity, and enlis ted rank were significantly associated with motor vehicle injury, but neith er smoking nor gender was. Multivariate models showed a significant trend o f increasing injury risk with younger ages. Soldiers under age 21 were inju red almost five times more often than those over age 40 (HR 4.89, 2.56-9.33 ). Also associated with risk for hospitalizations were minority race (HR 1. 78, 1.46-2.18), heaviest drinkers versus abstainers (HR 1.81, 1.11-2.94), a nd seat belt use of 50% or less versus 100% (HR 1.40, 1.07-1.85). Although nonsignificant, there was evidence of an age-drinking interaction where the difference in injury risk between those older and those younger than 21 wa s greatest ai low alcohol consumption levels. Conclusions: Modifiable risk factors associated with motor vehicle injuries include heavy drinking and low seat belt use. Programs targeting these beh aviors that meet the needs of young and minority soldiers are needed. The h igh density of young, at-risk soldiers residing in base housing may provide a unique opportunity for a residential intervention program.