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Abstract #153262

Sherri L. LaVela, MPH, MBA, Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital (151H), 1st Avenue and Roosevelt Road, Hines, IL 60141, 708-202-5895, sherri.lavela@va.gov and Bridget Smith, PhD, Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Management of Complex Care, PO Box 5000 (151H), Hines, IL 60141.

Purpose: To assess the association between alcohol use and unintentional injury (UI) occurrence post-SCI.

Methods: National survey. Mean UIs in the past year, since SCI, and IU-related hospitalizations were calculated. A zero-inflated negative binomial model was used to examine associations between individual characteristics and drinking behavior with UI. Percent change in expected counts was computed in persons with > 1 UI.

Results: Respondents included 3417 veterans with SCI; analyses included 2874 with complete data. Nearly 20% had > 1 UI in the prior year, 44% of which indicated multiple UIs. Since SCI, 61% had > 1 IU, of which 64% had > 1 IU-related hospitalizations. Nearly 40% consumed > 1 drink in 30 days; the average number of drinks per day was 2.2. Overall, 4% were chronic and 10% binge drinkers. The expected number of UIs increased by 39% for persons with > 1 chronic diseases (IRR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.03-1.87; p=0.031). Persons with paraplegia had an expected UI count 48% higher (IRR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.15-1.89; p=0.002) than those with tetraplegia. Poor physical (IRR= 1.024; 95% CI: 1.010-1.039; p=0.001) and mental (IRR=1.041, 95% CI: 1.029-1.054, p=0.000) health were associated with more UIs during the prior year. As average drinks per day increased, the expected number of UIs increased by 19% (IRR=1.19; 95% CI: 1.10-1.28; p=0.010).

Conclusions: Post-SCI UIs and UI-related hospitalizations were common. UIs can strain the individual and the health system (costly visits). Risk for UIs increased as monthly drinks consumed increased. Strategies to decrease UIs should address drinking behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to describe alcohol consumption patterns in persons with SCI.
• Participants will be able to describe occurrence of unintentional injuries (UI) and UI-related hospitalizations after SCI.
• Participants will understand the association between alcohol use and unintentional injury (UI) occurrence and UI-associated outcomes post-SCI.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Injuries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.