The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48496

Timothy Kerns, MS¹, Patricia C. Dischinger, PhD², and Carl Soderstrom, MD¹. (1) National Study Center for Trauma and EMS, Univeristy of Maryland Baltimore, 701 West Pratt Street, Box 001, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-328-4244, tkerns@som.umaryland.edu, (2) University of Maryland, Baltimore, National Study Center for Trauma and EMS, 701 West Pratt Street, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201

Gathering quantitative evidence on the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of a motor vehicle operator involved in a crash may become problematic to the investigating officer based on the circumstances of the crash and the operator’s severity of injury. This will likely lead to an under-reporting of alcohol-related non-fatal crashes. Using one component of Maryland’s Crash Outcomes Data Evaluation System (CODES), we compared the driver condition identified on the police crash report with the clinical BAC level. The comparison was done using patients arriving directly from the scene to one of Maryland’s trauma centers where, as a routine clinical component, a BAC test is performed. From 1997 through 1999, there were 2,070 drivers admitted to the trauma center on whom a clinical blood alcohol level was available. For a clinical BAC between .02 mg/dl and .079 mg/dl, the crash reported also identified alcohol involvement in 37% of the cases. The sensitivity increased with increasing BAC level to 64% for a BAC of greater then .08 mg/dl but less than .10 mg/dl and to 73% when the driver’s BAC was greater than .10 mg/dl. Increased injury severity contributed to a decrease in the sensitivity of the crash report. By improving BAC surveillance at hospitals, the likelihood that impaired drivers may be more readily identified increases. Such testing should be considered both as part of a clinical assessment and as a tool in determining the presence of a substance use disorder.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presenation participants should

• Have a clearer understanding of the under-reporting of alcohol involved crashes
• Gather insights on the value of routine BAC testing at medical facilities

Keywords: Motor Vehicles, Alcohol Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.