Increased proportion of alcohol-related trauma in a South London major trauma centre during lockdown: A cohort study.
10.1016/j.cjtee.2021.11.006
- Author:
Oliver S BROWN
1
;
Toby O SMITH
2
;
Andrew J GAUKROGER
3
;
Prodromos TSINASLANIDIS
3
;
Caroline B HING
3
Author Information
1. St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: oliver.brown9@nhs.net.
2. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom.
3. St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Alcohol;
COVID-19;
Lockdown;
Major trauma centre;
Trauma
- MeSH:
Adult;
COVID-19/epidemiology*;
Cohort Studies;
Communicable Disease Control;
Humans;
London/epidemiology*;
Pandemics;
Retrospective Studies;
Trauma Centers
- From:
Chinese Journal of Traumatology
2022;25(5):277-282
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE:Alcohol has been associated with 10%-35% trauma admissions and 40% trauma-related deaths globally. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom entered a state of "lockdown" on March 23, 2020. Restrictions were most significantly eased on June 1, 2020, when shops and schools re-opened. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of lockdown on alcohol-related trauma admissions.
METHODS:All adult patients admitted as "trauma calls" to a London major trauma centre during April 2018 and April 2019 (pre-lockdown, n = 316), and 1st April-31st May 2020 (lockdown, n = 191) had electronic patient records analysed retrospectively. Patients' blood alcohol level and records of intoxication were used to identify alcohol-related trauma. Trauma admissions from pre-lockdown and lockdown cohorts were compared using multiple regression analyses.
RESULTS:Alcohol-related trauma was present in a significantly higher proportion of adult trauma calls during lockdown (lockdown 60/191 (31.4%), vs. pre-lockdown 62/316 (19.6%); (odds ratio (OR): 0.83, 95% CI: 0.38-1.28, p < 0.001). Lockdown was also associated with increased weekend admissions of trauma (lockdown 125/191 weekend (65.5%) vs. pre-lockdown 179/316 (56.7%); OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.79 to -0.02, p = 0.041). No significant difference existed in the age, gender, or mechanism between pre-lockdown and lockdown cohorts (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:The United Kingdom lockdown was independently associated with an increased proportion of alcohol-related trauma. Trauma admissions were increased during the weekend when staffing levels are reduced. With the possibility of further global "waves" of COVID-19, the long-term repercussions of dangerous alcohol-related behaviour to public health must be addressed.
